Third Person Limited Narrator: Definition & Examples
In this lesson, we will define third person limited narration. We will discuss why an author would choose this point of view and compare and contrast it to other points of view. Then, we will look at a couple of examples from well-known literary texts.
Definition of Third Person Limited
In third person limited the narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character. All characters are described using pronouns, such as ‘they’, ‘he’, and ‘she’. But, one character is closely followed throughout the story, and it is typically a main character. In other words, third person limited is much like when a video camera is placed over the shoulder of a character and the camera follows that person closely throughout a film. We stick with that person and are privy to his or her thoughts and feelings while still seeing everything and everyone around him or her in each scene.
Why Choose to Use Third Person Limited?
Third person limited point of view gives a writer more freedom than first person point of view. In first person point of view, the writer must use ‘I’ and every moment is seen through the character’s eyes. Background information about other characters can’t be shared unless the main character learns it firsthand, since everything is seen through his or her eyes. If a story is instead told in third person limited, a little more information can be shared since all of the characters are being discussed as if they are being looked down on by the reader, rather than seen through one character’s eyes.
The most freeing point of view is third person omniscient because the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters can be shared through this god-like point of view. But, third person limited is sometimes a better choice since readers may tire of jumping from one character’s perspective to another’s, instead of staying with one character throughout the story. Third person limited can make the reader feel closer to a character because only one person’s thoughts and feelings are shared, thus allowing the chance to build a bond between the reader and that character.
Examples of Third Person Limited
J.K. Rowling uses third person limited in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The reader witnesses what Harry sees and knows his thoughts and feelings, but without ever hearing first-person narration from Harry. Check out this excerpt:
‘Harry had taken up his place at wizard school, where he and his scar were famous … but now the school year was over, and he was back with the Dursleys for the summer, back to being treated like a dog that had rolled in something smelly. The Dursleys hadn’t even remembered that today happened to be Harry’s twelfth birthday. Of course, his hopes hadn’t been high…’
In this excerpt from the novel we are able to know how Harry Potter is feeling, what he’s thinking, and what is happening. We follow him closely, unable to know what the Dursleys are thinking or feeling about having Harry with them for the summer. But, it is clear what Harry thinks and feels about them.
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