Understanding Characters in Objectively Narrated Stories
Understanding Characters in Objectively Narrated Stories
Characterization is the way writers develop characters and reveal those characters ' traits to readers. (Kirszner 121) Most times in a story we learn about the characters, through their own thoughts or through the narrative of a third person. In fact, most stories written are told through a first or third person narrative. What about the less popular point of view, the objective narrative? In the objective narrative there is no storyteller to clue the reader in about that aching old bullet wound. There 's not a mechanism to share the premonitions of doom felt in back of an army captain 's mind.
Objective narration does not provide emotions, thoughts or motivations aside from the words or actions of the characters. While it may be argued that other points of view may "fill out" a story, objective narratives draw in a reader. One cannot read an objective narrative without having to think, conclude and fill in the blanks as to things like history, relationships and motivations. Characters in objective narration stories can only be understood through the personal interpretation of the reader. In this sense, an objective point of view is more interactive than other forms of narration. Objective narration is defined as "(A) point of view (which) allows writers to remove the narrator from the story and present events in a distant, emotionless way. ' ' (Kirszner 231) While it may be a limiting style, the objective narration is unique in its ability to remove emotion, a tool that can be well used. Authors can set tone with objective narration, as well as lead a reader to a desired conclusion. Ernest Hemingway 's A Clean, Well-Lighted Place is an example of objective narration.
They sat together at a table that was close against the wall near the door of the café and looked at the terrace where the tables were all empty except where the old man sat in the shadow of the leaves of the tree that moved
Characterization is the way writers develop characters and reveal those characters ' traits to readers. (Kirszner 121) Most times in a story we learn about the characters, through their own thoughts or through the narrative of a third person. In fact, most stories written are told through a first or third person narrative. What about the less popular point of view, the objective narrative? In the objective narrative there is no storyteller to clue the reader in about that aching old bullet wound. There 's not a mechanism to share the premonitions of doom felt in back of an army captain 's mind.
Objective narration does not provide emotions, thoughts or motivations aside from the words or actions of the characters. While it may be argued that other points of view may "fill out" a story, objective narratives draw in a reader. One cannot read an objective narrative without having to think, conclude and fill in the blanks as to things like history, relationships and motivations. Characters in objective narration stories can only be understood through the personal interpretation of the reader. In this sense, an objective point of view is more interactive than other forms of narration. Objective narration is defined as "(A) point of view (which) allows writers to remove the narrator from the story and present events in a distant, emotionless way. ' ' (Kirszner 231) While it may be a limiting style, the objective narration is unique in its ability to remove emotion, a tool that can be well used. Authors can set tone with objective narration, as well as lead a reader to a desired conclusion. Ernest Hemingway 's A Clean, Well-Lighted Place is an example of objective narration.
They sat together at a table that was close against the wall near the door of the café and looked at the terrace where the tables were all empty except where the old man sat in the shadow of the leaves of the tree that moved
Cited: Word Count: 2072 Kirszner, Laurie and Mandell, Stephen. Literature, Reading, Reacting, Writing. Boston: Thomas Wadsworth, 2004