Definition and Examples of Narrators

Definition and Examples of Narrators A narrator is a person or character who tells a story, or a voice fashioned by an author to recount a narrative.   Professor Suzanne Keene points out that the  nonfiction narrator  is strongly identified with the author, whether a first-person self-narrator  in autobiography or a third-person historian or biographer (Narrative Form, 2015).An unreliable narrator (used far more often in fiction than in nonfiction) is a first-person narrator whose account of events cant be trusted by the reader. Examples and Observations The term narrator can be used in both a broad and a narrow sense. The broad sense is one who tells a story, whether that person is real or imagined; this is the sense given in most dictionary definitions. Literary scholars, however, by narrator often mean a purely imaginative person, a voice emerging from a text to tell a story. . . . Narrators of this kind include omniscient narrators, that is, narrators not only who are imaginary but who exceed normal human capabilities in their knowledge of events.(Elspeth Jajdelska, Silent Reading and the Birth of the Narrator. University of Toronto Press, 2007)Narrators in Creative Nonfiction- Nonfiction often achieves its momentum not just through narrativetelling the storybut also through the meditative intelligence behind the story, the author as narrator thinking through the implications of the story, sometimes overtly, sometimes more subtly.This thinking narrator who can infuse a story with shades of ideas is what I miss most in much nonfic tion that is otherwise quite compellingwe get only raw story and not the more essayistic, reflective narrator. . . . [I]n telling nonfiction stories we cant as writers know anybodys interior life but our own, so our interior lifeour thought process, the connections we make, the questions and doubts raised by the storymust carry the whole intellectual and philosophical burden of the piece.(Philip Gerard, Adventures in Celestial Navigation. In Fact: The Best of Creative Nonfiction, ed. by Lee Gutkind. W.W. Norton, 2005)- Readers of the nonfiction work expect to experience more directly the mind of the author, who will frame the meaning of things for herself and tell the readers. In fiction, the writer can become other people; in nonfiction, she becomes more of herself. In fiction, the reader must step into a believable fictional realm; in nonfiction, the writer speaks intimately, from the heart, directly addressing the readers sympathies. In fiction, the narrator is generally not the author; in nonfictionbarring special one-off personas as encountered in Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposalthe writer and narrator are essentially the same. In fiction, the narrator can lie; the expectation in nonfiction is that the writer wont. Theres an assumption that the story is, to as great an extent as possible, true; that the tale and its narrator are reliable.(New York Writers Workshop, The Portable MFA in Creative Writing. Writers Digest Books, 2006) First Person and Third Person Narrators[S]imple, direct storytelling is so common and habitual that we do it without planning in advance. The narrator (or teller) of such a personal experience is the speaker, the one who was there. . . . The telling is usually subjective, with details and language chosen to express the writers feelings. . . .When a story isnt your own experience but a recital of someone elses, or of events that are public knowledge, then you proceed differently as narrator. Without expressing opinions, you step back and report, content to stay invisible. Instead of saying, I did this; I did that, you use the third person, he, she, it, or they. . . . Generally, a nonparticipant is objective in setting forth events, unbiased, as accurate and dispassionate as possible.(X.J. Kennedy et al., The Bedford Reader. St. Martins, 2000)- First-Person NarratorOnce there, beside the ocean,  I felt a little frightened. The others didnt know Id gone. I thought of the violence in t he world. People get kidnapped on the beach. A sneaker wave could take me out, and no one would ever know what had happened to me.(Jane Kirkpatrick, Homestead:  Modern Pioneers Pursuing the Edge of Possibility. WaterBrook Press, 2005)- Third-Person NarratorLucy felt a little frightened, but she felt very inquisitive and excited as well. She looked back over her shoulder and there, between the dark tree-trunks, she could still see the open doorway of the wardrobe and even catch a glimpse of the empty room from which she had set out.(C.S. Lewis,  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, 1950) Narrators and ReadersIt is well known that in linguistic communication I and you are absolutely presupposed one by the other; likewise, there can be no story without a narrator and without an audience (or reader).(Roland Barthes, An Introduction to the Structural Analysis of Narrative, 1966) Pronunciation: nah-RAY-ter

Tips on Writing a Strong Personal Essay

Tips on Writing a Strong Personal Essay Tips on Writing a Strong Personal Essay If commenting on different essay types, one should definitely underline the issue of a personal essay. This is a free piece of writing where the author tells about his or her experience. Nonetheless, either narration or opinion style, the task is pretty complicated. There are certain things that belong to this type of essays. These are as follows: No search of official data is needed. No in-depth research is required. An author should write judging on his/her own experience and feelings. With the regard to the mentioned above statements, the writing process will be rather specific. The common structure (the introduction, main plot, and conclusion) will be kept. Nonetheless, there are several prompts you should keep in your memory for good. Our experts have collected the main guidelines to complete this specific piece of writing. In addition, you will learn some other smart tips. The sum of these recommendations and tips will help you craft a really impressive and correct personal essay. Begin with Engaging Opening Your introduction should be captivating and interesting. Use something unique and special. Write in a positive tone. You should get the attraction of your audience. Mind that your introductory part ought to present the fundamental question of your story. If you wish to write about your strongest trait, dwell upon this point and begin the story. Write from Your Personal Experience Commonly, all essays are dependent on the found information. Besides, it’s needed to stick to a definite writing style. Nonetheless, one of the most distinguished advantages of this particular assignment is the full freedom of thought. You have no restrictions on what to write about. This is up to you what events, personal traits or stories to reveal to your readers. You will write from your own experience and can choose any theme. In comparison to other essay types, you can likewise use any style you wish. Accordingly, this is a tremendous possibility to impress your readers and your academic supervisor with the fullest power of your originality. Therefore, be unique and creative. Stick to the Structure Though you are free to choose the topic and style, you cannot ignore the standard structure. Firstly, introduce your readers what your main aim is. Provide them with the thesis statement and start telling your story. Mind that you should describe the chosen topic from different angles. Don’t forget to mention all people or certain events that became the major influencers for your particular case. The real-life experience is supposed to flow smoothly. Write it naturally as if you were retelling it during a conversation with your friends. Be Honest One more essential point for this essay type is the truth. It should be authentic. Show your honesty and curiosity. Even if there are some events or personality traits you don’t really like, you are expected to reveal them. This is important because it makes your story full and real. Life isn’t perfect and there happen some misfortunes and black days. Therefore, uncover the hidden truth whatever its origin might be. Though it might be uncomfortable to reveal something sacred to other people, your honesty will be appreciated. It will show that you had fully depicted your private story and did not hide anything. Accordingly, your work will bring you the desired high grades. Useful Ideas You can likewise take into your consideration some smaller elements, which will help write a good personal essay. While composing your paper, consider the â€Å"to do† and â€Å"not to do† things. There are the next things you should do: Focus on personal aspects. Tell the truth. Select topics relevant to readers. Concentrate on positive concepts. Use originality and your own style. Use details. You should not: Be impersonal. Repeat the same statements. Tell lies. Choose boring topics. In the occasion, you still have no idea of how to compose this paper use samples. This is a dependable resource, which contains samples to understand this special essay better. Of course, you will receive only partial elements of a full paper. Nonetheless, you will get a better comprehension on how to fulfill each stage and section of your research.