Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
An omniscient observer is an all-knowing narrator who has access to the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of all characters in a story. They can provide insights into multiple characters' perspectives.
Related terms
Third-Person Limited Omniscient Narrator: A narrator who knows the thoughts and feelings of only one character but presents the story from a third-person perspective.
Authorial Intrusion: When an omniscient narrator directly addresses or comments on the reader or inserts their own opinions into the narrative.
Free Indirect Discourse: A narrative technique that blends a character's thoughts with the third-person narration, blurring the line between direct quotation and indirect description.