Writing Fiction & Poetry : How to Identify Narrative Style in Literature

Narrative style in literature refers to the storyteller or the narrator in a piece of writing, whether it be first, second or third person, omniscient or otherwise. Identify the narrative style of a piece of literature, while deciding whether or not to trust the narrator, with tips from a published author and English professor in this free video on writing.

Expert: David M. Harris
Bio: David M. Harris has taught English at Vanderbilt University and elsewhere.
Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• writing
• education
• writing skills
• creative writing
• fiction
• poetry
• short stories

[sachink12]

Thanks sir, you sure helped alot!!! :D

[rasko125]

you sir a gentleman and a scholar.

[TheBlackworth]

i need some help becaus i have a special caracter. it is a therid person. however this narrator refers to himself from time to time. he is a god. in fact.

[DKC1011]

Third Person seems to be the simplest of all tactics in narrative story telling. First Person seems to be difficul because unless I have spent a few months conversing with the character in my head I would find it impossible to put myself in their shoes. And finally, second person is just... wacky. I mean, I have only read a second person perspective in a novel-game. like you choose your weapons and such :P. So yeah. thanks a million for your help santa :D

[cokemtt]

you are awesome! soo much help

[dadosexy12]

@richagatorp745 Oh that's rude guy. Not that way 'cause my native language is Spanish and my novle is being written in spanish not english,my english is bad that's why I write like this U.U ...and I write 'cause I like to and cause I been studying creative writing since middle school>>> in spanish ;D

[dadosexy12]

Hi guys, I want to share my experience writing my first novel. Till now it's been five years writing and I'm just half work done, this process is needed cause in my story main character's thoughts show up often so I want to show how his mentality matures with time ( because I narrate his life completely, since he is born to his death). I let all that running cause I'm basing on my own mentality maturing (I can't do it with other's) so I let it to grow to use it in the story.

[8TheBrian8]

very educational thank you

[88blackandwhite88]

@LmanAkaSilentHunter I think it is a very good idea so long as you can keep track of your own story. It's been done before but rarely. I think it is a very creative way to tell a story. I say go for it :)

[88blackandwhite88]

This is the sort of man who belongs on expertvillage. Very good video. Very good knowledge.