narratorcentered

narratorcentered is a term used in narrative theory and criticism to describe an approach that foregrounds the narrator’s perspective as the primary lens through which a text is interpreted. In a narratorcentered analysis, the narrator’s credibility, voice, and range of knowledge determine how events, characters, and themes are presented and understood.

Core features include focalization through the narrator, the use of narratorial voice to shape tone and interpretation, and the selective disclosure of information. The approach often explores how distance, transparency, irony, and rhetorical stance affect meaning. It pays particular attention to whether the narrator is reliable or unreliable and how that reliability influences reader alignment.

narratorcentered analysis intersects with established concepts such as Genette’s focalization, free indirect discourse, and narrative distance. It is compatible with first-person, framed, or omniscient narrators, as well as with metafictional techniques that draw attention to narration itself.

Applications abound in novels and other media that rely on distinctive narrative voices, including classic and contemporary works where the narrator’s perspective guides interpretation. The approach is often contrasted with character-centered or plot-centered analyses that foreground protagonists or events rather than the act of narration itself. Examples often cited include works such as The Great Gatsby and Lolita, where the reader’s perception is mediated by the narrator.

Critics note that a narratorcentered focus can risk obscuring broader social, historical, or formal factors; therefore it is commonly used in combination with other analytical perspectives to provide a balanced reading.

See also: focalization, reliable narrator, unreliable narrator, free indirect discourse, metafiction.