The Narrative ChainThe Narrative Chain

The Real AuthorThe Real Author

This is the person who actually writes This is the person who actually writes the story, but can we ever really know the story, but can we ever really know this person?this person?

D. H. Lawrence gave some famous D. H. Lawrence gave some famous advice: “Never advice: “Never trusttrust the teller, the teller, trusttrust the tale.”the tale.”

When we examine the real author’s When we examine the real author’s life in order to help us understand a life in order to help us understand a story, then we are doing historical story, then we are doing historical criticism. criticism.

The Implied AuthorThe Implied Author Since we can’t really know the real author, Since we can’t really know the real author,

we don’t need to even try.we don’t need to even try. What does the text imply about the person What does the text imply about the person

who created it?who created it? By reading the text, what can we assume By reading the text, what can we assume

about the author’s knowledge, interests, about the author’s knowledge, interests, and motivations?and motivations?

After reading After reading Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland, for , for example, we can infer that the author is example, we can infer that the author is someone who wants to make fun of someone who wants to make fun of nobility and traditional education. nobility and traditional education.

The NarratorThe Narrator

Who actually tells the story?Who actually tells the story? Does a character tell the story or does Does a character tell the story or does

someone who is not in the story tell it?someone who is not in the story tell it? Does this person sound like an adult or Does this person sound like an adult or

a child?a child? How much does this person know How much does this person know

about what is going on insides about what is going on insides people’s minds?people’s minds?

The NarrateeThe Narratee

Who is the narrator addressing?Who is the narrator addressing? Who does it feel like the narrator is Who does it feel like the narrator is

talking to?talking to? In many stories, the narratee and the In many stories, the narratee and the

implied reader seem like the same implied reader seem like the same person. person.

Inside the story, if one character tells a Inside the story, if one character tells a story to another story, they play the story to another story, they play the roles of another set of narrator/narratee.roles of another set of narrator/narratee.

The Implied ReaderThe Implied Reader

What does the text imply about the What does the text imply about the person who reads?person who reads?

What knowledge is necessary or What knowledge is necessary or useful to make sense out of the story useful to make sense out of the story and enjoy it?and enjoy it?

The Real ReaderThe Real Reader

Who is the person who is actually Who is the person who is actually reading the text.reading the text.

This person may read and dislike the This person may read and dislike the story. In such a case, the real reader story. In such a case, the real reader is unable or unwilling to take the is unable or unwilling to take the position of the implied reader. position of the implied reader.

The Narrative ChainThe Narrative Chain

Real Real AuthorAuthor

Real Real ReaderReader

Implied Implied AuthorAuthor

Implied Implied ReaderReader

NarratorNarrator NarrateeNarratee

Irony happens when the implied author and the narrator have a different understanding. The implied author expects the implied reader to not trust the narrator—to see past his words to a greater truth.

Some stories have multiple narrative strands: one implied author, but many narrators.

Narration: internalNarration: internal Internal narrators (sometimes called first-Internal narrators (sometimes called first-

person narrators or character narrators). person narrators or character narrators). – Easy for young readers to empathize withEasy for young readers to empathize with– Limited viewpointsLimited viewpoints– Readers can only see what the characters see.Readers can only see what the characters see.– But sometimes readers can understand more But sometimes readers can understand more

than the character-narrator understands. than the character-narrator understands. – Even when a character tells her own story, she Even when a character tells her own story, she

is telling it from a different time than it is is telling it from a different time than it is happening. happening.

– When a character is closer in time to the When a character is closer in time to the actions they talk about, they are usually more actions they talk about, they are usually more engaging, but readers have more to figure out.engaging, but readers have more to figure out.

Narration: externalNarration: external External narrators. External narrators.

– They are outside the story and usually not They are outside the story and usually not identified.identified.

– An “omniscient” narrator can go anywhere and An “omniscient” narrator can go anywhere and know what’s in anyone’s mind.know what’s in anyone’s mind.

– A “limited omniscient” narrator can move around A “limited omniscient” narrator can move around too, but usually only knows the mind of the too, but usually only knows the mind of the protagonist. protagonist.

– Listen to the voice of these narrators to try to think Listen to the voice of these narrators to try to think what kind of tone or attitude they have.what kind of tone or attitude they have.

– Often these narrators are very didactic, telling Often these narrators are very didactic, telling readers exactly what they should do or think. readers exactly what they should do or think.

– Sometimes these narrators are playful and teasing. Sometimes these narrators are playful and teasing.