MYP English Lang & Lit 3.2 Third-person Narration Notes

Third-person narration

1. (or: watching the story from the outside)

2. In third-person narration, the story is told by a narrator who is not a character.
3. They watch the story unfold instead of living inside it.
4. This changes:
   1. how much we know
   2. who we trust
   3. how tension is created

1. What is third-person narration?

1. Third-person narration tells the story using:
   1. he
   2. she
   3. they
   4. his / her / their
2. The narrator exists outside the story world.
3. In simple terms:

   1. The narrator is watching the characters, not being one.

2. Types of third-person narration (the useful ones)

Third-person limited

1. The narrator follows one character closely.
   1. we see their thoughts and feelings
   2. we do not know what others think
2. This feels similar to first-person, but with more distance.

Third-person omniscient

1. The narrator knows everything.
   1. multiple characters’ thoughts
   2. past and future events
   3. hidden motivations
2. This creates a wider, more balanced view of the story.

3. Why writers use third-person narration

1. Writers choose third-person narration to:
   1. control how much information the reader has
   2. create distance or objectivity
   3. shift focus between characters
   4. build tension through dramatic irony
2. Third-person gives writers flexibility.

4. Third-person narration and tension

1. Third-person narration can create tension by:
   1. showing things the characters don’t know
   2. switching between perspectives
   3. withholding thoughts or explanations
2. Sometimes the reader knows more than the character. Sometimes they know less.
3. Both create tension.

5. Third-person narration and character

1. Third-person narration:
   1. shows behaviour from the outside
   2. allows readers to judge characters independently
   3. can make characters seem mysterious or controlled
2. In limited narration, thoughts reveal character.
3. In omniscient narration, comparisons reveal character.

6. Third-person narration and reliability

1. Third-person narrators are often seen as more reliable, but:
   1. limited narrators still have bias
   2. omniscient narrators can guide interpretation
2. Reliability depends on what the narrator chooses to show.

7. Using PEEL to analyse third-person narration

You can analyse third-person narration using PEEL.

P: Point

1. Identify how third-person narration shapes understanding.
   1. distance
   2. perspective
   3. control of information

E: Evidence

1. Use:
   1. a description of a character’s actions
   2. a reported thought
   3. a shift in focus

E: Explain

1. Explain:
   1. what the narrator allows us to see
   2. what remains hidden
   3. how this affects tension or character judgement

L: Link

1. Link to:
   1. character development
   2. tension
   3. theme
   4. dramatic structure

8. Now it's your turn...