When we read or listen to a story, we know there was someone to tell it, don't we?
This person is called “narrator”, who has the function of reporting on the facts belonging to the narrative.
But did you know it could be one of the components?
When the narrator participates in the events, he is called the narrator-character.
Those who do not participate in the story, on the other hand, are called observer-narrators, as they are limited to informing us about all the events.
This procedure carried out by the narrator receives a specific name, called “discourse”, and according to the way in which he performs this function, it can receive three distinct classifications. This is what we will know next:
Direct speech – It is the one in which the narrator reproduces the characters' speeches in a faithful way, as they really happened. Take an example:
During dinner, the boy asked his mother:
- Mom, can I invite some friends to go to the movies tomorrow?
She answered:
- Of course son! I'll make you that chocolate cake you love.
- Thank you mommy, you are sensational!
Indirect speech – It is the one in which the narrator reproduces the lines using his own voice, that is, he puts himself in the characters' place in an indirect way. Look:
As they were having dinner, the boy asked his mother's permission to invite some friends to go to the movies. She agreed, saying that she was going to prepare a chocolate cake to wait for them, making her son very happy.
We realized that there was no direct participation, as happened in direct speech, but the words of the narrator.
Free indirect speech – This is when a union occurs, both in the characters' speeches and in the narrator's. As the example shows:
When they went to the movies, everyone liked the movie and decided to plan another tour. The boy said:
- Next weekend we can arrange to go to the club, what do you think?
All replied:
- What a fantastic idea!
They were looking forward to the big day.
