Final answer:
The narrator's role in a story varies, including an outside observer with a limited view, a character within the story, an all-knowing entity, or a first-person perspective, each impacting the storytelling and reader's insight.
Step-by-step explanation:
The narrator in a story is the person telling the story. There are various roles a narrator may play:
- An outside observer, which is typically seen in third-person limited point of view, where the narrator aligns with one character and only knows what that character knows.
- A character narrator, who tells the story from their perspective; this is known as first-person narration.
- An omniscient narrator who has knowledge of everything concerning all the characters and events in the story.
- A first-person narrator who is usually a character in the story and shares their point of view exclusively.
Different types of narrators provide various levels of insight into the plot and characters, offering different angles and depths into the story's world. An omniscient narrator may offer a more reliable and objective narration, while limited perspective narrators present a view through one character's eyes, which can introduce bias. Knowing the role of the narrator and point of view helps in the analysis of the story and understanding of the characters.