First-Person Narrative Techniques

Stream of Consciousness

• Stream of consciousness is a popular technique used by authors of first-person-based literature. In literature of this type the story is written as a false document. The narrator of the story makes common references to the fact that he is writing the document the reader is currently viewing. Although the form of the document may vary, some of the most common false documents that are seen in stream of consciousness literature are diary- or letter-based. Many stories that fall into the stream of consciousness category present a narrator that is fully coherent at the beginning of the plot and, as the story goes on, becomes less aware of the reader and delves deeper into his subconscious thoughts.

Unreliable Narrator

• In literature the narrator of the story is often viewed by the reader as a reliable protagonist; this, however, is not always the case. Some authors have modified the conventions of the first-person narrative to create elaborate stories with unreliable narrators. This technique is used by the author to keep the reader on his feet and place him into the story. In these types of stories the narrator will often lie, manipulate his memories to convey an unrealistic truth or omit details about an event.

Flashbacks

• Many authors prefer the use of flashbacks to give the reader insight into the narrator's past. This technique commonly appears throughout first-person narratives and is usually presented to the reader in the form of a memory. The flashback is often triggered by a key plot point that reminds the narrator of a significant event in his past. Flashbacks often move the story along by providing an important piece of information that reveals why a character performs in a specific manner. In some instances an author has an entire story take place as a flashback with the current events being unknown.

First-Person Plural

• First-person plural is a common technique used by writers of detective- or group-based fiction. This technique is often used by writers to draw the reader's attention away from the narrators and focus it on the conflict and the process of resolving it. The story often features three or more narrators that commonly refer to the group as "us" or "we." The reader is often given little insight into the minds of the narrators but instead given an ample amount of information regarding the overall plot of the story.