Omniscient Narrator Controls the Point of View

In a God-like Perspective Viewpoint Varies From POV

Sep 17, 2009

When authors decide to use an omniscient narrator to tell their story, they gain the ability to examine the events in the novel from a God-like perspective.

The omniscient narrator occurs when an author chooses to write from a point of view (POV) that knows everything about every character. This includes knowing what each character experiences through the five senses, as well as what each one thinks.

Viewpoint and POV Differ

A common misconception about the omniscient point of view is that the POV changes from character to character. To better understand the use of an omniscient narrator, it’s important for writers to understand that the point of view is always from the omniscient narrator’s perspective.

While many authors use the terms viewpoint and point of view interchangeably, when dealing with an omniscient narrator, a slight change occurs. Writers work from the POV of the narrator, which allows them know the viewpoint, or perspective, of each character. So while the scene shifts from person to person, in essence, the POV remains with the narrator.

Benefits of Using an Omniscient Narrative Style

Nineteenth-century authors like Dickens, Austen, and Elliot often used the omniscient narrative style, but as writing progressed the trend shifted to an invisible narrator. To do this, authors strive to create a deep point of view that connects the readers to the main characters on a more intimate level.

Even with the shift, the omniscient perspective has some advantages, including the following ones:

Drawbacks to Writing from a Narrator’s Perspective

While an omniscient POV allows a reader to know more about the characters a writer chooses to highlight, it sometimes prevents the reader from connecting with a specific character. Instead of diving into one viewpoint, the omniscient narrator may only give surface-level details.

If an author fails to use the technique correctly when writing a novel, it can result in confusion. The reader may not know who is leading the scene, which can prevent him or her from connecting to the story. Another issue is that readers may not want to know all the information at any given time. Leaving out certain details can add suspense or tension to the story, which can drive the plot forward.

First Person, Second Person, or Third Person Point of View May Work Better

When using an omniscient narrator, a writer must use a third person point of view in order to avoid confusing the writer. But there are other narrative styles an author may prefer. When written correctly, first person and third person limited points of views allow readers to connect better to the main character in the story, creating a deep POV.

The copyright of the article Omniscient Narrator Controls the Point of View in Writing Techniques is owned by Tara McClendon. Permission to republish Omniscient Narrator Controls the Point of View in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.