robcon
12-01-2009, 08:54 PM
There is a question here, but I need to state my confusion first. (I apologize ahead of time for using all caps for emphasis, but my usual way of bolding or italicizing does not work on this site.)
A 3rd person narrator who is OUTSIDE the story can state his/her thoughts about the characters in the story by saying: I'm glad she finally realized she was conflicted about..."
By the narrator referring to himself as "I" it appears that he is a 1st person narrator, not 3rd. Most of the time he/she may be narrating in 3rd:
SHE didn't realize she was conflicted about... But, at times, an outside narrator who has opinions about the proceedings can tell us his/her thoughts in 1st person as in the example above.
Is it accepted that a narrator can occasionally speak his/her thoughts in 1st person, yet the overall narration is still considered 3rd person?
Of course, it is seems much clearer if the 3rd person narrator is a character INSIDE the story and tells us his thoughts in 1st person, while telling the story mostly in 3rd person. Anyone know the definitive rules here? Thanks
A 3rd person narrator who is OUTSIDE the story can state his/her thoughts about the characters in the story by saying: I'm glad she finally realized she was conflicted about..."
By the narrator referring to himself as "I" it appears that he is a 1st person narrator, not 3rd. Most of the time he/she may be narrating in 3rd:
SHE didn't realize she was conflicted about... But, at times, an outside narrator who has opinions about the proceedings can tell us his/her thoughts in 1st person as in the example above.
Is it accepted that a narrator can occasionally speak his/her thoughts in 1st person, yet the overall narration is still considered 3rd person?
Of course, it is seems much clearer if the 3rd person narrator is a character INSIDE the story and tells us his thoughts in 1st person, while telling the story mostly in 3rd person. Anyone know the definitive rules here? Thanks