# data[].attributes.headline
Narrative Point of View - test your knowledge! Watch the Youtube video by Khan Academy below and then do this assessment. Good luck!

# data[].attributes.subject
Narrative Point of View - test your knowledge! Watch the Youtube video by Khan Academy below and then do this assessment. Good luck!

# data[].attributes.body
This is the assessment worksheet that goes with the Youtube video on A Story's Point of View. See how you do!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mastering Point of View (POV) in Narrative_ First, Second, and Third Person

# data[].attributes.body
Percy Jackson comprehension

# data[].attributes.body
extract

# data[].attributes.body
This clip explains the basic 3 x narrative points of view: 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

This is REALLY important for deep reading of texts.

Don't forget to test your knowledge with the assessment worksheet to make sure you've really got it!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A story's point of view | Reading | Khan Academy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scribd is the source for 200M+ user uploaded documents and specialty resources.

# data[].attributes.headline
When it happens - broader authorial choices

# data[].attributes.subject
When it happens - broader authorial choices

# data[].attributes.body
Watch this before doing homework!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
3rd Person POV: See Everything with Omniscient, Limited, and Objective (Point of View Tutorial)

# data[].attributes.body
How we describe characters really makes a difference to our storytelling!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Direct and Indirect Characterization: Show and Tell

# data[].attributes.body
Narrative challenge: how to make a fantasy character believable to the reader?
1) 1st person narrator - allows the reader to engage with the protagonist emotionally
2) 2nd person narration - creates the illusion that the narrative is a conversation with the reader
3) A teenage tone and style - sounds like a young school kid
4) rhetorical questions create the illusion of a conversation

Referring to the Chat Notes above, explain what you think the particular narrative challenges were for Dickens in the opening pages of A Christmas Carol, and what techniques he used to overcome them.

# data[].attributes.body
Here is a comprehension paper on Bram Stoker's Dracula.

# data[].attributes.body
August 4th: Looking at Slide 48, the long comprehension question, annotate the extract to show which quotations you would use in your answer, so we can continue next time in two weeks. Emailing the extract!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When you establish your audience, purpose and form, you can make sensible choices about language, tone and structure.

Friendly and chatty, or distant and polite?

Sarcastic, pleading, or dismissive?

Upbeat and positive, or calm and controlled?

Full sentences and paragraphs?

Subheadings and bullet points?

A sequence of linked paragraphs that lead to a final conclusion?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Audience, purpose and form - Audience, purpose and form - AQA - GCSE English Language Revision - AQA - BBC Bitesize

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about the importance of audience, purpose and form in your own piece of writing with this BBC Bitesize GCSE English Language (AQA) study guide.

# data[].attributes.headline
10 Effective Tips to Reach Your Audience KS3

# data[].attributes.subject
10 Effective Tips to Reach Your Audience KS3

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Linda Stone, an ex-Apple and Microsoft consultant coined the phrase Continuous Partial Attention (CPA). It is different than multitasking, which is done mindlessly. Instead, it is motivated by a desire to be connected. According to Stone, "to be busy, to be connected, is to be alive, be recognized, and to matter."

This constant need to be connected means that people are consuming content constantly. A study by Ofcom reported that people check their phones every 12 minutes. I can honestly admit that in the time it took me to write this much, I checked my phone a few times. With so much information at their fingertips, consumers can find the answers to their questions in just a few seconds.
So, how do you break through the clutter?
1. Know your audience when writing

In order to write content that will resonate with someone, you must have an idea of who is going to read it.

Why do you need to know your audience?

Writing for an audience will help guide how you structure your work, what kind of language you use, what information you include, and how you approach each topic. For example, if you are writing a blog for small business owners that may need digital marketing or website help, you should make sure to explain web-related topics and keywords thoroughly.

New research shows that younger brains can process information faster than older generations, making it easier for them to transition from task to task. Generations that grew up in this era are conditioned to constantly change their focus. Comparatively, older adults can focus and learn better due to a more resilient and longer-lasting attention span.

This information determines how your content should be structured depending on the generation you are catering to. For example, if you write pieces for a lifestyle blog that is aimed at college students, the format of your blog should be easy to digest, short, and to the point. Your readers are probably looking for answers, and they want them right away. However, if you write content for a website that is frequented by Baby Boomers or Gen Xers, then your pieces should be longer, more in-depth, and informational.

At Hoist, our intended audience falls into the earlier end of the millennial generation. So, we make sure to provide answers to our audience's questions, break up our content, and bold the most important information so it's easier to decipher.

2. Construct a persona for writing

To better understand your audience, you can build a fictional consumer to represent your target. Audience personas are used by marketing agencies and businesses to better market their products to consumers and uncover human truths. Building a persona will help you to understand your audience's needs and desires and allow you to discover their interests and how they spend their time.

To develop a persona, you first need to establish their demographic status. This includes their age, gender, location, income, education, family, and interests. Further, you can develop values, goals, fears, and challenges to understand the needs of the consumer.

Of course, this information should be based on research and data. If you have an idea of who you want your audience to be, you can cater your content to this target. However, if you already have a following and are trying to understand who they are, you'll want to do some digging.

3. Create a connection

After you've established who your audience is, you need to dive into what your audience is looking for. Your audience persona will give insight into how your audience goes about their daily lives, which is imperative to understanding how to empathize and relate to them.
How can you help?
Once you've uncovered some daily challenges or frustrations that your reader encounters, you can provide a solution.

Whether you're a marketing agency writing to small business owners or a landscape company writing for new homeowners, your information should offer valuable solutions that fit into your readers' lifestyles.

For example, if you're writing on behalf of a marketing agency that writes for small business owners, your content should answer the questions that small business owners have when it comes to marketing like how much does it cost to hire a digital marketing agency? Then you can include a CTA to encourage readers to contact your digital marketing agency to talk about solutions.

In order to foster a deeper relationship, you need to spark an emotional connection. Speak directly to the reader and address their personal needs in your writing. If you encourage readers to leave comments, take the time to respond to them.

Consumers will be more adept at your business if you share similar values. According to the Wall Street Journal, 53% of consumers believe brands can do more to solve social problems than the government.

Taking a stand on a social problem actually helps brands. According to a study conducted by Edelman, 40% of people surveyed said they bought a product for the first time for the sole reason that they appreciated the brand's position on a controversial societal or political issue. A company's stance on a social issue can drive purchase intent just as much as the features of a product.

This doesn't only relate to brands that produce consumer products. No matter your business, customers want to know where you stand.

4. Be helpful

Your content should provide useful and beneficial information. You want it to stick with and influence your reader.

The same information is available everywhere, so you want to create original content.

Because users are used to finding the answers to their questions in a second, your content should be formatted so that it's easy to scan.

On our blogs, our goal is that no matter where you're at on a page, you should always be able to see an image. This rule helps us to break up content.

5. Be informative

While many pieces of content will end in a call-to-action, the content should still be informative and objective. Provide facts and not just opinions.

Instead of focusing on persuading the reader to click your CTA, you should keep the user in mind and cater your content to the answers they're looking for.

6. Be personable

While your first priority is to provide for the reader, don't be afraid to let your own personality show.

7. Be vivid

More than providing the right information, you need to keep the reader engaged.

While the first sentence should get the reader's attention, the rest of your piece should flow seamlessly to keep them captivated.

The language you use is especially important. The research you do on your audience should help you to determine how to speak to the reader. If you are writing a piece for millennials, you should use language that will resonate. Some examples of language that only a millennial audience would understand are "salty" or "basic".

Similes, metaphors, and imagery will allow the reader to engage their senses, which will, in turn, pull the reader in and keep them captivated.

8. Know your stuff

This might be the most important factor when writing a piece of content, especially when writing to a specific niche. When writing for an audience that knows their stuff, it will be obvious if you don't know what you're talking about.

Your reader should feel that they are getting their information from a credible source. If you write about an idea that isn't your own, always cite your sources.
So, what if you don't know a ton about your topic?
First, perform some general research. Find out what content is already out there, whether there is any recent news coverage of your topic, and if there are any controversial opinions out there.

Next, reach out to some influencers or industry experts. Find out what they know and what opinions they have on the subject. When you are done with your piece, reach out to them to fact-check and provide feedback.

One of our favorite digital marketing experts is Neil Patel. We were able to interview him in 2013 and collect some of his insight on SEO strategy, keeping up with changing tactics, and reaching consumers.

Collect reliable data and facts. If you aren't an expert on the subject, then you will want others' opinions to act as your voice of authority.

9. Avoid grammar mistakes

Spelling and grammar mistakes will hurt your credibility- and make your content harder to read.

Not only will your piece appear sloppy, but Bing stated that poor grammar will hurt your rankings. Google hasn't said whether or not grammar mistakes affect ranking. The algorithm that ranks content on Google does filter out "poor-quality content", though no one is certain how much of that is determined by spelling and grammar.

If grammar often trips you up, we suggest using Grammarly and Hemingway to correct mistakes before you make your content public.

10. Seek feedback

To best understand if your content resonates with your target audience, ask for feedback.

You can either ask someone you know that fits your target to read your piece or encourage readers to share their thoughts by commenting on your post.

Either way, you will benefit and learn how to alter the way you write for your intended audience.

Practice makes perfect

No one says it better than Ira Glass: when you first start making work, it won't be very good. But if you continue to create mediocre work, eventually you'll begin making really good work. It just takes practice.

Writing is just like any other skill; you must work at it often. Set aside time to write every day, no matter what it is. The more you do it, the more natural it will become.

Implementing these tips will help you to break through the clutter by identifying and writing content that will engage your audience.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Effective Tips To Reach Your Audience Through Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Struggling to reach your audience? Check out these insightful and very effective tips to reach your audience through writing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
For much of history, reading was a fairly noisy activity. On clay tablets written in ancient Iraq and Syria some 4,000 years ago, the commonly used words for "to read" literally meant "to cry out" or "to listen". "I am sending a very urgent message," says one letter from this period. "Listen to this tablet. If it is appropriate, have the king listen to it."

Only occasionally, a different technique was mentioned: to "see" a tablet - to read it silently.

Today, silent reading is the norm. The majority of us bottle the words in our heads as if sitting in the hushed confines of a library. Reading out loud is largely reserved for bedtime stories and performances.

But a growing body of research suggests that we may be missing out by reading only with the voices inside our minds. The ancient art of reading aloud has a number of benefits for adults, from helping improve our memories and understand complex texts, to strengthening emotional bonds between people. And far from being a rare or bygone activity, it is still surprisingly common in modern life. Many of us intuitively use it as a convenient tool for making sense of the written word, and are just not aware of it.

Colin MacLeod, a psychologist at the University of Waterloo in Canada, has extensively researched the impact of reading aloud on memory. He and his collaborators have shown that people consistently remember words and texts better if they read them aloud than if they read them silently. This memory-boosting effect of reading aloud is particularly strong in children, but it works for older people, too. "It's beneficial throughout the age range," he says.

Reading aloud is often encouraged in school classrooms, but most adults tend to do most of their reading silently (Credit: Alamy)

MacLeod has named this phenomenon the "production effect". It means that producing written words - that's to say, reading them out loud - improves our memory of them.

The production effect has been replicated in numerous studies spanning more than a decade. In one study in Australia, a group of seven-to-10-year-olds were presented with a list of words and asked to read some silently, and others aloud. Afterwards, they correctly recognised 87% of the words they'd read aloud, but only 70% of the silent ones.

In another study, adults aged 67 to 88 were given the same task - reading words either silently or aloud - before then writing down all those they could remember. They were able to recall 27% of the words they had read aloud, but only 10% of those they'd read silently. When asked which ones they recognised, they were able to correctly identify 80% of the words they had read aloud, but only 60% of the silent ones. MacLeod and his team have found the effect can last up to a week after the reading task.
You might also like:
Even just silently mouthing the words makes them more memorable, though to a lesser extent. Researchers at Ariel University in the occupied West Bank discovered that the memory-enhancing effect also works if the readers have speech difficulties, and cannot fully articulate the words they read aloud.

MacLeod says one reason why people remember the spoken words is that "they stand out, they're distinctive, because they were done aloud, and this gives you an additional basis for memory".

We are generally better at recalling distinct, unusual events, and also, events that require active involvement. For instance, generating a word in response to a question makes it more memorable, a phenomenon known as the generation effect. Similarly, if someone prompts you with the clue "a tiny infant, sleeps in a cradle, begins with b", and you answer baby, you're going to remember it better than if you simply read it, MacLeod says.

Another way of making words stick is to enact them, for instance by bouncing a ball (or imagining bouncing a ball) while saying "bounce a ball". This is called the enactment effect. Both of these effects are closely related to the production effect: they allow our memory to associate the word with a distinct event, and thereby make it easier to retrieve later.

The production effect is strongest if we read aloud ourselves. But listening to someone else read can benefit memory in other ways. In a study led by researchers at the University of Perugia in Italy, students read extracts from novels to a group of elderly people with dementia over a total of 60 sessions. The listeners performed better in memory tests after the sessions than before, possibly because the stories made them draw on their own memories and imagination, and helped them sort past experiences into sequences. "It seems that actively listening to a story leads to more intense and deeper information processing," the researchers concluded.

Many religious texts and prayers are recited out loud as a way of underlining their importance (Credit: Alamy)

Reading aloud can also make certain memory problems more obvious, and could be helpful in detecting such issues early on. In one study, people with early Alzheimer's disease were found to be more likely than others to make certain errors when reading aloud.

There is some evidence that many of us are intuitively aware of the benefits of reading aloud, and use the technique more than we might realise.

Sam Duncan, an adult literacy researcher at University College London, conducted a two-year study of more than 500 people all over Britain during 2017-2019 to find out if, when and how they read aloud. Often, her participants would start out by saying they didn't read aloud - but then realised that actually, they did.

"Adult reading aloud is widespread," she says. "It's not something we only do with children, or something that only happened in the past."

Some said they read out funny emails or messages to entertain others. Others read aloud prayers and blessings for spiritual reasons. Writers and translators read drafts to themselves to hear the rhythm and flow. People also read aloud to make sense of recipes, contracts and densely written texts.

"Some find it helps them unpack complicated, difficult texts, whether it's legal, academic, or Ikea-style instructions," Duncan says. "Maybe it's about slowing down, saying it and hearing it."

For many respondents, reading aloud brought joy, comfort and a sense of belonging. Some read to friends who were sick or dying, as "a way of escaping together somewhere", Duncan says. One woman recalled her mother reading poems to her, and talking to her, in Welsh. After her mother died, the woman began reading Welsh poetry aloud to recreate those shared moments. A Tamil speaker living in London said he read Christian texts in Tamil to his wife. On Shetland, a poet read aloud poetry in the local dialect to herself and others.

"There were participants who talked about how when someone is reading aloud to you, you feel a bit like you're given a gift of their time, of their attention, of their voice," Duncan recalls. "We see this in the reading to children, that sense of closeness and bonding, but I don't think we talk about it as much with adults."

If reading aloud delivers such benefits, why did humans ever switch to silent reading? One clue may lie in those clay tablets from the ancient Near East, written by professional scribes in a script called cuneiform.

Many of us read aloud far more often in our daily lives than we perhaps realise (Credit: Alamy)

Over time, the scribes developed an ever faster and more efficient way of writing this script. Such fast scribbling has a crucial advantage, according to Karenleigh Overmann, a cognitive archaeologist at the University of Bergen, Norway who studies how writing affected human brains and behaviour in the past. "It keeps up with the speed of thought much better," she says.

Reading aloud, on the other hand, is relatively slow due to the extra step of producing a sound.

"The ability to read silently, while confined to highly proficient scribes, would have had distinct advantages, especially, speed," says Overmann. "Reading aloud is a behaviour that would slow down your ability to read quickly."

In his book on ancient literacy, Reading and Writing in Babylon, the French assyriologist Dominique Charpin quotes a letter by a scribe called Hulalum that hints at silent reading in a hurry. Apparently, Hulalum switched between "seeing" (ie, silent reading) and "saying/listening" (loud reading), depending on the situation. In his letter, he writes that he cracked open a clay envelope - Mesopotamian tablets came encased inside a thin casing of clay to prevent prying eyes from reading them - thinking it contained a tablet for the king.

"I saw that it was written to [someone else] and therefore did not have the king listen to it," writes Hulalum.

Perhaps the ancient scribes, just like us today, enjoyed having two reading modes at their disposal: one fast, convenient, silent and personal; the other slower, noisier, and at times more memorable.

In a time when our interactions with others and the barrage of information we take in are all too transient, perhaps it is worth making a bit more time for reading out loud. Perhaps you even gave it a try with this article, and enjoyed hearing it in your own voice?
Correction: An earlier version of this article identified Ariel University as being in Israel, when it is in occupied territory in the West Bank. We regret the error.
--
Join one million Future fans by liking us on If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called "The Essential List". A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife, and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. Facebook, or follow us on Twitter or Instagram.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For much of history, reading was a fairly noisy activity. On clay tablets written in ancient Iraq and Syria some 4,000 years ago, the commonly used words for "to read" literally meant "to cry out" or "to listen". "I am sending a very urgent message," says one letter from this period.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Write a Thriller: 5 Tips for Writing a Gripping Thriller - 2022 - MasterClass

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
From Gillian Flynn’s *Gone Girl* to Raymond Chandler’s *The Big Sleep*, thrillers are jam-packed with tension, suspense, and plot twists. Learn about different types of thrillers and eight key tips for writing a thriller—from creating compelling protagonists and villains to pacing suspenseful action…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is an Unreliable Narrator? || Definition & Examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn to identify and interpret unreliable narrators in stories through this free, open-source lesson for high school and college students and teachers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In the vast realm of fiction, one narrative technique that continues to captivate readers and challenge their perceptions is the concept of the unreliable narrator.

The unreliable narrator, a complex and often enigmatic character, serves as the lens through which a story is told, but their unreliability adds an intriguing layer of uncertainty and ambiguity to the narrative.

From classic works to contemporary masterpieces, these unreliable narrators have left an indelible mark on the literary landscape, forcing readers to question the very nature of truth, perception, and the reliability of storytelling.

In this article we explore 11 of the most compelling examples of unreliable narrators in fiction, where truth and deception intertwine to create unforgettable storytelling experiences.

What is an unreliable narrator?

An unreliable narrator is characterized by their tendency to distort or manipulate the truth, either intentionally or unknowingly.

They may be driven by personal biases, mental instability, flawed memories, or a desire to deceive the reader.

Through their subjective viewpoint, they present events, characters, and their own thoughts and emotions in a manner that is skewed, inconsistent, or contradictory.

As a result, readers are left to navigate a labyrinth of uncertainty, forced to decipher hidden truths and grapple with the unreliability of the narrator's account.

The Origins and Evolution of the Unreliable Narrator: A Deep Dive into a Complex Narrative Device

The device of the unreliable narrator, though prominent in contemporary literature and film, has deep roots in the soil of storytelling history. Its emergence and evolution can be traced back through centuries, to a time when narratives began to grapple with the subjectivity of human experience.

One of the earliest seeds of this narrative style can be found in ancient Greek drama. In Euripides's "The Bacchae," the God Dionysus narrates parts of the play, but his intentions and perspective are shrouded in ambiguity, suggesting the theme of unreliable narration. However, it wasn't until the advent of modernity that this storytelling device was fully realized and effectively utilized in narrative form.

The birth of the modern novel in the 18th century provided fertile ground for the development of the unreliable narrator. The rise of first-person narratives created a direct link between narrator and character, resulting in narratives where the protagonist's perception significantly colored the story. Laurence Sterne's "Tristram Shandy" and Daniel Defoe's "Moll Flanders" are early examples of works that hint at the narrator's unreliability, as the eponymous characters' versions of events sometimes veer into the realm of the implausible or are contradicted by other characters.

In the 19th century, literary works started exploring the human psyche more profoundly. Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" offers a clear-cut example of an unreliable narrator, with the protagonist clearly driven by insanity, thus making his recounting of the murder he committed suspect. This exploration of mental states, delusion, and self-deception became a common theme in narratives employing unreliable narrators.

With the arrival of the 20th century, the unreliable narrator became a prominent feature in modernist literature. Notable examples include Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Notes from Underground" and Henry James's "The Turn of the Screw." In Dostoevsky's work, the unnamed narrator freely admits his irrational nature, casting a pall of uncertainty over the entire narrative. Similarly, in James's novella, the governess's account of ghostly encounters is rife with ambiguity, leaving readers to question her mental stability and, consequently, the veracity of her narrative.

Stream-of-consciousness writing in the early 20th century, as pioneered by authors like James Joyce and Virginia Woolf, took this further by intimately linking the narration to the character's consciousness, which was subject to change, fallibility, and misperception. These narratives rendered the line between reality and perception ever more blurred.

The postmodern era saw authors using unreliable narrators to comment on the subjective nature of truth and the limitations of language. Novels like Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita" and Kazuo Ishiguro's "The Remains of the Day" use unreliable narrators to mask the truth, leading readers to question their assumptions and prejudices.

From ancient Greece to postmodernist literature, the unreliable narrator has evolved and grown more complex, reflecting broader changes in society's understanding of the self, reality, and the nature of storytelling.

While the origins of the unreliable narrator are multi-faceted and rooted in various literary traditions, its significant prominence in the 20th century marked a key shift in narrative strategies, highlighting the complexity of human perception and the inherent subjectivity of truth.

Psychology of the unreliable narrator

One of the most intriguing aspects of unreliable narrators is their psychological dimension.

Whether grappling with mental illness, trauma, or hidden motivations, these narrators offer a unique exploration of the human psyche.

Their unreliability serves as a mirror, reflecting the complexities of the human mind and its capacity for self-deception and rationalization.

By immersing readers in the subjective experiences of these narrators, authors shed light on the intricate interplay between truth, memory, and personal bias.

Unreliable narrators have the power to captivate readers, challenge their perceptions, and leave them questioning the very fabric of the story.

These narrators lead us through twisted plots, deceiving us at every turn, and leaving us to unravel the truth.

Join us as we explore 11 remarkable examples that demonstrate the power of unreliable narration, engaging us in a dance of deception and revelation that lingers in our minds long after we finish reading.

Humbert Humbert's narrative in "Lolita" is a masterclass in unreliable narration.

Humbert, a highly intelligent and articulate man, is the protagonist of Nabokov's controversial masterpiece, presenting a distorted perspective on his obsession with a 12-year-old girl named Dolores Haze, whom he calls Lolita.

Humbert presents his story as a memoir, recounting his illicit relationship with Lolita and the events that follow. He portrays himself as a sympathetic, misunderstood character, but his pedophilic desires and distorted perspective make readers question everything he says.

Humbert selectively presents the events and details that support his perspective, omitting information that could challenge his portrayal of the relationship.

He controls the narrative, deciding what to include and what to omit, shaping the reader's understanding of the story.

He justifies his actions, making the reader question their own moral compass and empathize with a deeply flawed character.

Patrick Bateman, the wealthy and seemingly successful investment banker, narrates his violent and psychotic tendencies.

Ellis skillfully blurs the line between Bateman's reality and delusion, leaving readers to question whether the horrors he describes are real or figments of his imagination.

Bateman's fixation on surface-level details, such as brand names, fashion, and social status, is reflected in his narration.

This excessive focus on superficiality calls into question the reliability of his observations, as it suggests that his priorities and perception are skewed.

It challenges readers to question the truthfulness of Bateman's perspective while navigating between reality and the protagonist's twisted imagination.

The narrative presents conflicting details and contradictory accounts, leaving the reader uncertain about the authenticity of Bateman's experiences.

Chief Bromden, a patient in a mental institution, suffers from severe paranoid schizophrenia, and serves as the narrator of this powerful novel.

This condition affects his perception of the world around him, making it difficult for the reader to determine what is real and what is a product of his delusions.

Kesey creates a narrative that challenges the reader's understanding of reality and truth where Bromden's hallucinations and distorted perceptions blur the line between what is happening in reality and what is happening in his own mind.

As the story unfolds, readers discover the extent to which Bromden's mental state influences his perception of events, highlighting the theme of sanity and the struggle against oppressive institutions.

In this psychological thriller, Flynn employs a dual-narrator structure, alternating between the voices of the husband and wife, Nick and Amy Dunne.

The narrative presents contrasting accounts of their marriage and the events surrounding Amy's disappearance.

Their versions of events often contradict each other, leaving the reader uncertain about what is true or who to believe.

As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Amy is a master manipulator, toying with both the characters within the novel and the readers themselves.

The novel stands out as an example of an unreliable narrator due to its skillful use of contrasting perspectives, deceptive storytelling, hidden motives, complex characterizations, unexpected twists, and psychological manipulation.

Holden Caulfield's narration embodies teenage angst and rebellion.

However, as readers delve deeper into his thoughts and actions, they realize that Holden's perspective may not be entirely reliable, raising questions about the reliability of adolescent perception.

Salinger deliberately creates a narrative that challenges the reader's trust in the narrator's reliability.

This technique allows for a deeper exploration of themes such as alienation, identity, and the complex nature of reality.

Verbal Kint - The Usual Suspects by Bryan Singer

Verbal Kint narrates an intricate crime story to the police.

Kint, portrayed by Kevin Spacey, serves as the storyteller and central narrator of the film.

From the beginning, he establishes himself as an unassuming, physically disabled individual, which creates a perception of vulnerability and sympathy.

However, as the film progresses, doubts emerge regarding Verbal's reliability, leading viewers to question his honesty and integrity.

Throughout the film, the audience is taken on a twisted journey and the film's manipulation of perspective, non-linear storytelling, and ultimate plot twist make it a compelling example of this narrative device.

Briony Tallis, a young aspiring writer, misinterprets and alters events, leading to severe consequences.

Briony's narration is heavily influenced by her personal experiences, emotions, and desires.

She holds a biased perspective, particularly towards Robbie Turner, whom she falsely accuses of a crime.

Her deep-seated jealousy and romantic feelings towards Robbie color her perception of events, leading her to misinterpret his actions and motivations.

As the story progresses, the readers gain access to the perspectives of other characters, challenging Briony's version of events.

These shifts expose Briony's limitations and reveal the discrepancies between her perception and the objective reality.

McEwan masterfully explores the unreliability of memory and the subjectivity of truth, challenging readers to question the authenticity of narrative perspectives.

The protagonist, Pi Patel, tells two different versions of his journey.

The first version involves him surviving on a lifeboat with a zebra, orangutan, hyena, and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

However, this story seems implausible and hard to believe. In the second version, Pi recounts a much more realistic and brutal version of events, where the animals are replaced by humans, including Pi himself resorting to violence.

As readers immerse themselves in Pi's fantastical narrative, they are left pondering whether his version of events is a coping mechanism or a legitimate retelling of a miraculous journey.

Pi himself acknowledges this when he asks which version of his story the writer prefers.

The book invites readers to consider the role of imagination, faith, and perception in shaping the narratives we construct about our lives.

The unnamed narrator, suffering from insomnia and disillusionment, spirals into a world of violence and chaos.

Palahniuk's narrator gradually reveals his fractured mental state, and he frequently experiences hallucinations and distorted perceptions of reality.

These hallucinations often involve interactions and conversations with his alter ego, Tyler Durden, blurring the line between what is real and what is imagined.

The Narrator is unaware of his split personality for a significant portion of the story, and this lack of self-awareness raises doubts about the reliability of his narration.

The story deliberately blurs the line between reality and the protagonist's subjective experiences, making the reader question the nature of their own existence.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's magnum opus, "The Great Gatsby," provides a profound illustration of an unreliable narrator.

The novel is narrated through the eyes of Nick Carraway, a bondsman who moves to the East Coast and becomes entangled in a web of opulence, deceit, and unrequited love. However, Nick's perspective on the characters and events is distinctly subjective and proves to be the catalyst for some of the book's most intricate elements of interpretation.

While Nick is not deceptive in a traditional sense-there is no twist at the end revealing that he has lied to us-he is undoubtedly biased.

His fascination with Jay Gatsby, the eponymous character, borders on romantic obsession. This affects how the story unfolds, leading readers to question the truth of Nick's characterizations. After all, can we entirely trust a man who, despite acknowledging the follies of Gatsby's relentless pursuit of the past, continues to paint him in a positive light, even describing him as "great"?

Nick's unreliability also stems from his self-identification as "one of the few honest people" he has ever known.

While on one hand, this statement makes the reader want to trust him, it simultaneously makes one wary of his potential self-deception and resultant bias.

There is also an interesting contrast between his claimed honesty and his participation in the morally ambiguous world of the East Coast elite, further adding layers of doubt to his credibility.

Moreover, Nick's views on the other characters such as Daisy, Tom, and Jordan are colored by his moral judgments and personal involvement in the events. These factors, coupled with the prevalent themes of illusion versus reality in the novel, intensify the feeling of uncertainty. Nick's subjective descriptions contribute to the novel's poignant and elusive qualities, as the reader is left to filter truth from the embellishments of his narrative.

"The Great Gatsby" exemplifies the power of the unreliable narrator.

The narrative device does not just add complexity to the novel but forms the backbone of its themes, encapsulating the decadence, idealism, and social stratification of 1920s America through a lens of personal subjectivity.

Fitzgerald's use of an unreliable narrator deepens our understanding of the novel, pushing readers to examine the narrative and its characters more critically and thoughtfully.

The subjectivity of Nick Carraway, far from undermining the story, instead elevates it into a multi-layered exploration of perception and reality.

Teddy Daniels - Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

"Shutter Island," penned by Dennis Lehane and later adapted into a film by Martin Scorsese, presents a different breed of unreliable narrator, demonstrating how the stability of a narrator's mental state can directly influence the reality perceived by the reader or viewer.

The narrative is centered around U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the film, who arrives at Shutter Island with his partner Chuck to investigate the disappearance of a patient from a heavily-guarded asylum.

In both the novel and the movie, Teddy is established as a reliable figure initially - a law enforcement official tasked with uncovering a mystery. Yet, as the narrative unravels, a series of disturbing dreams, incongruities, and disorienting incidents cast doubt on Teddy's reliability. It becomes increasingly apparent that his perception of the world may not align with reality, forcing the audience to question the truth of his experiences and statements.

The cinematic adaptation adds a visual layer to the theme of unreliability. Scorsese uses subtle and not-so-subtle film techniques such as odd camera angles, eerie lighting, and abrupt scene changes to convey Teddy's disintegrating mental state, making the film version of the story more visually disorienting and adding to the unreliable narrative.

In both versions, the climax throws Teddy's reliability into complete chaos. It reveals that Teddy is actually Andrew Laeddis, a patient at the asylum, who had been living a delusional fantasy to escape the guilt of his wife's death and his role in it. This twist fundamentally reshapes our understanding of the story, revealing that most of what we've been told is a figment of Teddy/Andrew's damaged psyche.

The events and characters he interacts with - from his partner Chuck to the patient he is investigating - are reframed as parts of an elaborate therapeutic role-play designed by the hospital staff to shock him back into reality. This revelation raises questions about the entire narrative that preceded it, prompting a reevaluation of every piece of information provided by Teddy/Andrew.

"Shutter Island," in both its versions, leverages the unreliable narrator to create a narrative of escalating tension and mystery. The story masterfully interweaves Teddy's delusions with reality, leaving readers and viewers uncertain and disoriented.

This psychological thriller exemplifies how a narrator's mental state, interwoven with plot development, can manipulate audience perception, delivering a dramatic exploration of guilt, denial, and the human capacity for self-deception.

Conclusion

Engaging with a narrative featuring an unreliable narrator requires readers to adopt an active role, becoming detectives searching for hidden clues and multiple layers of meaning.

We must question and analyze the narrator's motives, evaluate their credibility, and piece together the fragments of the story to construct our own version of the truth.

This interactive process deepens our engagement with the text, provokes introspection, and challenges our preconceived notions of storytelling.

While unreliable narrators offer a captivating reading experience, they also raise ethical questions. By immersing readers in a narrative crafted by an untrustworthy source, authors force us to confront our own gullibility and susceptibility to manipulation.

This raises important considerations about the responsibility of authors in crafting narratives that might deceive or exploit readers, blurring the line between entertainment and ethical boundaries.

Unreliable narrators bring a unique and intriguing dynamic to fiction, challenging readers to question the veracity of the story they are being told.

From pedophiles to psychopaths, from unreliable memories to deliberate deception, these 11 examples of unreliable narrators in fiction prove that the boundaries between truth and lies can be both fascinating and unsettling.

So, next time you delve into a gripping narrative, keep an eye out for the unreliable narrator lurking between the lines.

Corrine Asbell is a former journalist and an unashamed video game aficionado. When not glued to her PS5 she's rewatching Star Wars and trying to learn Swedish. Hej hej!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
11 Best Examples of an Unreliable Narrator in Fiction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In the vast realm of fiction, one narrative technique that continues to captivate readers and challenge perceptions is an unreliable narrator.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Literary Devices | Alliteration, Irony, Similes, Symbolism, Metaphor & More

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Literary devices are used to add life to text and are commonly associated with building a scene in written format.

# data[].attributes.body
This the THE most important part of responding to an essay title prompt!

# data[].attributes.body
Homework: Question 17 Explain the response of George and Hazel to the death of Harrison

# data[].attributes.body
Test your deep knowledge of newspaper article writing with this game:

https://arcade.padlet.com/game/3yjNL1mGK4?link_shared=1