Question

What is the significance of the omniscient narration in "The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane?

A.
The omniscient narrator's overview of all the characters provides a foreshadowing of the ending.
B.
The detached perspective of the omniscient narrator emphasizes nature's indifference toward humans.
C.
The omniscient narrator's reverent tone toward the sea indicates that nature is more important than man.
D.
The omniscient narrator's compassionate tone toward the characters shows respect for human endurance.

Answer 1

The omniscient narration in "The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane is significant because (A.) the omniscient narrator's overview of all the characters provides a foreshadowing of the ending.

"The Open Boat" is a short story that was written and published by Stephen Crane in 1897. It focuses on the author's own experience after surviving a shipwreck. The story is told by a third-person narrator, that is, an omniscient narrator that does not participate in the story. The narrator only witnesses what happens to the characters and tells the reader their thoughts and feelings. Moreover, he knows more things than the characters, which allows him to anticipate what will happen at the end of the story.