Narration

Narration is the act of telling a story or recounting events to an audience, using a voice that guides the reader or listener through the sequence and meaning of the material. It encompasses the methods by which a story is conveyed and how information about events is introduced to the audience.

The narrator is not necessarily the author; it may be a character within the story or an external observer. The choice of narrator determines what information is available and how events are interpreted. The narrator’s perspective shapes tone, emphasis, and accessibility of the narrative world.

Point of view types include first-person, where the narrator uses I and offers a personal perspective; second-person, which addresses the reader as you (less common in traditional prose); and third-person, which can be omniscient (all-knowing about multiple characters) or limited (focused on a single character’s experiences and thoughts).

Narrative techniques include direct or quoted speech, indirect speech, and free indirect discourse, which blends the narrator’s voice with a character’s perspective. Other techniques involve focalization, non-linear timelines, frame narratives, and multiple narrators to control information flow and interpretation.

Narration appears across media, including novels, short stories, films, radio, podcasts, theatre, and interactive media such as video games. In these contexts, narration may be performed by a voiceover, a character, or through in-game text, influencing pace, mood, and immersion.

Functions of narration include organizing events, controlling pacing, revealing or concealing information, shaping readers’ or listeners’ interpretation, and establishing voice and credibility. Narration can be reliable, unreliable, or deliberately ambiguous, affecting how a story is understood.