Third-person omniscient narrator

A narrator outside the story who refers to characters as ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘they’ and can reveal the thoughts and feelings of different characters.

The novel uses a third-person omniscient narrator, but much of its action is experienced through Elizabeth’s perceptions. Free indirect discourse lets her assumptions enter the narration. Before the first proposal, for example, “his pride and caprice were the cause” of Jane’s suffering reflects Elizabeth’s angry interpretation (narrator conveying Elizabeth’s thoughts, Chapter 33), rather than a complete explanation of Darcy’s motives.

A narrator outside the story who can describe different characters’ thoughts, feelings and histories.

A narrative voice outside the action that refers to characters as ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘they’ and can reveal the thoughts of different characters.

A narrator outside the story who refers to characters as ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘they’ and can reveal different characters’ thoughts and feelings.

The novel has a third-person omniscient narrator, but much of the story follows Elizabeth’s perceptions. Through free indirect discourse, the narration can sound like her thoughts even when it does not directly quote her. This makes her judgements feel persuasive and encourages readers to share her mistakes about Darcy and Wickham.

A narrator outside the action who refers to characters as ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘they’ and can reveal the thoughts of more than one character.

A narrative voice outside the story that can reveal the thoughts and feelings of different characters.

Austen uses a third-person omniscient narrator: a voice outside the story that can describe events and enter different characters’ minds. This narrator is not simply Elizabeth speaking, although the narration often follows her perspective.

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE English Literature · 8702

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Edexcel GCSE English Literature · 1ET0

OCR GCSE English Literature · J352