The 6 types of storytellers, and how they are used in literature

When it comes to telling stories, whether they are real or fictional, it is not only important what the world that is described is like and the events that occur in it. The way in which the figure of the narrator is used is also crucial, even when it seems that this does not form part of the narrative itself.

In this article we will see what they are the main types of storytellers in the different works of literature that tell stories, and how choosing one or the other has an effect on the psychological impact these works cause.

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The different types of storytellers, and their characteristics

Human beings are characterized, among other things, by creating stories, narratives. These stories go far beyond the world of entertainment, as you might think if keeping in mind the concept of what literature is we only focus on the best-selling novels. They offer a way to interpret reality.

Therefore, stopping to learn more about the main types of storyteller is not frivolous, since this choice is part of the creative process of explaining something. Each one of them gives a different whole to the story. Let's look at a classification of these categories when narrating, going from first-person narrators to second-person narrators to finally reach third-person ones.

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1. First person narrator

This type of narrator is very common, and serves to print a realistic and experiential tone to the story that is told. Be supposed to the person who tells us the story was there when it all happened, so that we assume that the universe in which it occurs is the same in which the narrator is presently, so that he is subject to the same rules, approximately.

In addition, the fact that everything is narrated in the first person allows us to have more information about this character, which although it does not have to be the protagonist, yes that usually has importance in the story, even if it is to help build the rest of the characters through the interaction of the first with the seconds, watching their personalities affect each other.

In turn, this category can be divided into other types of storytellers. They are as follows.

1.1. Witness narrator

In these cases, the character who has the role of narrator does not act as a protagonist, but as a person close to the protagonist and who attends the main events that articulate the story.

He's a kind of storyteller very useful when you want to show the personality of the protagonist, as well as his personal evolution and his narrative arc, in a subtle way, suggesting more than describing in a direct way, since you do not have access to the real thoughts of that character. However, it is also possible to adopt a more impersonal style, as if everything were made up of reports.

Examples of this type of storyteller are John Watson in the Sherlock Holmes novels or Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby.

1.2. Main narrator

This is probably the most popular and used type of first-person narrator, as it is also one of the most intuitive and simple: the story is explained from the point of view of the person who must go through the main plot arc of the story, just as we would in real life if we explained something that has happened to us.

However, when using this resource it is possible to use many nuances. For example, narrating by talking about what is happening in the present allows the audience to be immersed in the story.

1.3. Narrator in stream of thoughts

This is a very little used type of narrator, since it tries to literally describe someone's thoughts, as they emerge to consciousness. Consequently, everything is explained in real time, the present being the moment of reference.

The different narrators of The noise and the furyby William Faulkner are an example of this.

2. Second person narrator

This type of narrator is characterized by explaining a story to a specific person. It can be presented in epistolary format, as if everything were made up of letters addressed to a recipient, or as if it were a real dialogue in which basically one speaks and the other listens, sometimes making it appear that questions asked by the listener are being answered.

3. Third person narrator

Finally, in the third person narrator, the person who explains the story is characterized by not participate at all, or participate as little as possible, in the course of the story. It can be divided into two categories.

3.1. Omniscient narrator

One of the most used types of narrator. It is spoken from the point of view of an entity totally alien to the plane of reality in which it occurs everything that is explained, as if it were a kind of god who has access to all the information time, even to the mental states of all the characters, directly.

It must be taken into account that although it can be reliably described what each character thinks and feels, for reasons related to coherence and the quality of In the narrative, you avoid moving from one mind to another in a chaotic way, and instead choose to focus the attention on a character and what happens to his around.

The novel Champion's breakfast, by Kurt Vonnegut, combines this type of narration with that of a witness narrator, for example. Something similar happens in Fogby Miguel de Unamuno.

3.2. Observing narrator

It is similar to the previous one, but in this case you do not have direct access to all the information about what is happening. However, the narrator engages as little as possible in what happens, both physically and psychologically. Try to be neutral and objective.