Narrative Distance
Definition
Narrative distance refers to the level of closeness or distance between the narrator and the characters in a story. It determines how much insight and access readers have into the thoughts, feelings, and actions of the characters.
Related terms
Point of View: The perspective from which a story is told.
Omniscient Narrator: A narrator who knows everything about all characters and events.
Limited Narrator: A narrator who has limited knowledge or perspective on certain characters or events.
"Narrative Distance" appears in:
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (8)
- Which of the following best describes narrative distance?
- What does emotional investment refer to in narrative distance?
- How does a close narrative distance impact the reader's experience?
- What effect does a distant narrative distance have on the reader?
- How can an author manipulate the reader's experience using narrative distance?
- Which of the following accurately describes the impact of narrative distance on the reader's understanding of the characters and events in a story?
- Which of the following statements accurately describes how an author can manipulate narrative distance to enhance the reader's engagement with the story?
- How does tone interact with narrative distance and perspective in a story?
