Typically anything that is not in dialogue is assigned to the narrator.Ī voice-over in a movie that doesn’t seem to have any attached in-universe speaker is said to be coming from the narrator. While inner thoughts shared by the narrator might represent a character, they are not being spoken by the character, which means that they’re being narrated.Ī narrative voice can come directly from a specific character’s inner thoughts, or it could represent some disembodied presence that communicates important information to the audience. This exposition might come in the form of inner thoughts, events in the story, details about the setting, etc. This is essentially the voice that gives exposition. How Do You Define a Narrator?Ī narrator relays the events of a story, or narrative, to the reader.
The easiest way to remember the baseline differences is to think of the implied verbs.Ī narrator narrates, which implies a narrative.Ī speaker speaks, which implies that there is a direct exchange between the reader or listener and the speaker. However, it would be disingenuous not to recognize the differences implied. It should be noted that this distinction is relatively hazy since many people use the terms interchangeably when referring to the voice of a literary work. In most other instances, such as in public speaking or in poetry, the central voice is commonly referred to as the speaker instead. The central voice through which a narrative or story is told, such as in books and movies, is the narrator. Speaks directly to the reader or audienceĬan be an active part of the story or simply the creator behind the scenesĪn active participant that can either be a voice behind the poem or a character of a scene The active “voice” behind a character or persona in a story or poemĬan be first person, second person, or third person 5 How Do You Define a Speaker? What Is the Difference Between a Narrator and a Speaker?
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