Final answer:
The mode of narrative that offers the most flexibility to an author is the third-person omniscient, which allows access to all characters' thoughts and events in the story.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mode of narrative that gives the author the most flexibility is third-person omniscient person. This mode of narration is distinct because it is not limited to the perspective of one character. Instead, an omniscient narrator stands outside the narrative itself and has access to all information, characters' thoughts, feelings, and unseen events. This allows the author to move freely between characters and events, offering a comprehensive view of the story's world.
Comparatively, first-person and second-person points of view, which use 'I,' 'you,' or 'we,' are limited to the knowledge and experiences of the narrator, which can be a character within the story.
The third-person omniscient narration is versatile and provides a broader understanding of the plot and character dynamics. It is used extensively in literature to create a well-rounded and multi-faceted narrative.
LibreTexts, for example, can relate a text through the perspectives of several characters, providing reliability and depth to the storytelling. The narrative voice in third-person omniscient can be designed to appear either detached or more personable, depending on how much the author wishes to engage with the reader through the narrator's persona.