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A narrator is, within any story (literary work, movie, play, verbal account, etc.), the non-fictional or fictional, personal or impersonal entity who tells the story to the audience. When the narrator is also a character within the story, he or she is sometimes known as the viewpoint character. The narrator is one of three entities responsible for story-telling of any kind. The others are the author and the audience; the latter called the "reader" when referring specifically to literature.

The author and the audience both inhabit the real world. It is the author's function to create the universe, people, and events within the story. It is the audience's function to understand and interpret the story. The narrator only exists within the world of the story (and only there—although in non-fiction the narrator and the author can share the same persona, since the real world and the world of the story may be the same) and present it in a way the audience can comprehend.

A narrator may tell the story from his or her own point of view (as a fictive entity) or from the point of view of one of the characters in the story. The act or process of telling the particulars of a story is referred to as narration. Along with exposition, argumentation, and description, narration (broadly defined) is one of four rhetorical modes of discourse. More narrowly defined, narration is the fiction-writing mode whereby the narrator communicates directly to the reader.

The concept of the unreliable narrator (as opposed to "author") became more prominent with the rise of the novel in the 18th century. Until the late 19th century, literary criticism as an academic exercise dealt solely with poetry (including epic poems like the Iliad and Paradise Lost, and poetic drama like Shakespeare). Most poems did not have a narrator distinct from the author. But novels, with their immersive fictional worlds, created a problem, especially when the narrator's views differed significantly^{[clarification needed]} from those of the author.

Perspective, interpretive knowledge, focalization and structure are the narrator's characteristics. Perspective and interpretive knowledge are essential characteristics of the narrator. Focalization and structure are lateral.^[1]

An example of a viewpoint character is Dr. Watson from the Sherlock Holmes stories. Almost all of the Sherlock Holmes collection is from his point of view.

Types of narrators[link]

Narrative modes[link]

A writer's choice of narrator is crucial for the way a work of fiction is perceived by the reader. Most narrators present their story from one of the following perspectives (called narrative modes): first-person, or third-person limited or omniscient. Generally, a first-person narrator brings greater focus on the feelings, opinions, and perceptions of a particular character in a story, and on how the character views the world and the views of other characters. If the writer's intention is to get inside the world of a character, then it is a good choice, although a third-person limited narrator is an alternative that does not require the writer to reveal all that a first-person character would know. By contrast, a third-person omniscient narrator gives a panoramic view of the world of the story, looking into many characters and into the broader background of a story. A third-person omniscient narrator can tell feelings of every character. For stories in which the context and the views of many characters are important, a third-person narrator is a better choice. However, a third-person narrator does not need to be an omnipresent guide, but instead may merely be the protagonist referring to himself in the third person (also known as third person limited narrator).

Multiple narrators[link]

A writer may choose to let several narrators tell the story from different points of view. Then it is up to the reader to decide which narrator seems most reliable for each part of the story. It may refer to the style of the writer in which he/she expresses the paragraph written. See for instance the works of Louise Erdrich. William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying is a prime example of the use of multiple narrators. Faulkner employs stream of consciousness by narrating the story from the first person view of multiple characters. Each chapter is devoted to the voice of a single character after whom it is titled. Some writers employ an alternate form of this style, in which multiple characters narrate the story at once, or at least a single character narrates the actions of a group of characters while never referring to a "me", and only to a "we" of the group. The technique of narrating from the point of view of a group as opposed to an individual can create a dissociative effect of observation, as if a Greek chorus, or personalize the story further by providing the reader with the knowledge and experience of a party involved in the story, without the unrelatable specifics of an individual personality or character. Examples of first-person plural narration include Chuck Palahniuk's Haunted and Jeffrey Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides.

In literary work, the narrator is the person who tells the story. Point of view is the narrator's relationship to the story. In a story using first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story. The reader sees everything through that character's eyes. In a work with third-person limited point of view, the narrator is outside the story and reveals the thoughts and feelings of only one character.

Another example is George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, which has used more than 30 character Points of View (POV) so far.

See also[link]

• Film theory
• Free indirect speech
• Voice-over

References[link]

External links[link]

• The Narrator short film
• Narrator in different languages
• Directory of International voice talent for narrations
• UK based voice overs and narrators
• The Narrator
• Summary of narrator

James Fortune (born November 29, 1978) is a gospel music singer. He is a graduate of Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas, and attended Cal State Northridge. He is the choir director at Higher Dimension Church in SW Houston, TX. Higher Dimension church was organized on January 23, 1999 at Judy Bush Elementary School. Under the leadership of Pastor Terrance Johnson, Higher D has grown from 29 members in 1999 to more than 12,000 with 10 operative lead ministries and a host of sub-ministries that cater the needs of kids, youth, men, women, couples and singles.

James Fortune & FIYA’s highly anticipated debut CD, “You Survived” was released in September 2004. He was honored at the 19th annual ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards for his hit single "You Survived" off the same album. “You Survived” also peaked as the #2 most played Gospel song in the country and has remained in the Top 7 for the last 3 years. The radio single, “God Can” features Micah Stampley and upcoming gospel artist Zacardi Cortez. James Fortune received a 2006 ASCAP Writers Award for “You Survived” alongside some of music’s finest like L.L. Cool J., Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin and J. Moss. FIYA has been nominated four years in a row for the Texas Gospel Youth & Young Adult Choir of the year. They have been featured on Eric Carrington’s album, “Soar”.

FIYA has been blessed to open up for various artists such as, John P. Kee, Kim Burrell, Stevie Wonder, Mary Mary, Donald Lawrence, Albertina Walker, Fred Hammond, Tye Tribbett & G.A. and many others. FIYA made their mark in the gospel arena when they participated in the “One Church Tour” with some other gospel greats such as Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers, RiZen, Smokie Norful, and Vickie Yohe.

James Fortune and F.I.Y.A.’s sophomore project on Black Smoke Music World Wide (formerly World Wide), “The Transformation”, was .released January 22, 2008. The first single “I Trust You” is dominating Gospel radio with 25 weeks straight at #1 and counting. Because of its crossover appeal, “I Trust You” is # 30 on Urban AC charts and #1 at WBLS in New York City, Urban AC’s # 1 station in the U.S.

James Fortune has taken the initiative and believes his mission is to draw lost souls to Christ, encourage you to share in Christ’s unconditional love and peace, and live a life free from bondage and strongholds in God’s abundance according to John 10:10. Because of his calling, Fortune constantly writes ballads and Sunday morning worship songs, collaborates with stellar producers and songwriters, and creates music complete with life transforming principles.

James Fortune is a family man that recognizes his success is only as comparable to his obedience and yielding to God’s will. He invites you to transform your life and remain committed to your God given journey.

On an BET episode "Lift Every Voice" host CoCo Brother, James Fortune is interviewed and reveals the history behind writing the hit song "I Trust You"

External links[link]

• Fortune's Myspace site
• Review of "You Survived" album

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