Booth Types of Narration

narrator

the voice or entity that tells the story

dramatized narrator

clearly a character in the story; commonly uses “I”

undramatized narrator

not a character in the story; has no personal involvement; simply presents the events

narrator observer

mere observers; present in the story but not central to the action; watches and reports; plays a minor role

narrator agent

a key character in the plot; directly affects what happens; tells their own story

scene

in detail with time and place; specific

summary

over a large chunk of time and broader

range of commentary

narrators who allow themselves to tell as well as show depending on the amount and kinds of commentary allowed in addition to scene and summary

types of distance

more or less distant from the implied author, characters in the story, reader’s own norms, from the reader, or from other characters

reliable narrator

one whose account you can generally trust; tells events accurately, has a clear perspective

unreliable narrator

one who cannot be fully trusted; may lie or exaggerate; can be biased or confused

privelege

allowed to know what can’t be learned by natural means; can be used when authors are able to present a dramatic situation without being in a dramatic manner

inside views

what the narrator or author’s inside thoughts are and whether they go deep morally or stay surface level.

lena

the main narrator who documents the story

ezol day

a spirit who travels through time to reveal events

hope little leader

pitcher whose perspective contributes to the story