6.2 Narrative Technique

Narrator and point of view

The narrador (narrator) and punto de vista (point of view) shape a story. A narrador omnisciente knows all; a first-person narrador protagonista tells their own tale, like Lázaro.

Time and structure

Writers reorder time with flashback (analepsis) and shifting chronology. Structure — how events are arranged — is itself a source of meaning.

Unreliable narration

A narrator may be biased or limited, making the reader question their account. Detecting the gap between narration and truth is central to interpretation.

Key terms

narrador omnisciente

all-knowing narrator

narrador protagonista

first-person narrator telling their own story

punto de vista

point of view

analepsis / flashback

reordering time to an earlier event

Unreliable narrator

biased/limited — invites the reader's skepticism

Try an AP-style question

An omniscient narrator…

1. is a character in the story
2. addresses the reader only
3. knows only one character
4. knows all characters' thoughts