Omniscient narrator - GCSE English Language Definition

An omniscient narrator is a narrative voice in a story who knows everything about the characters and events, providing a comprehensive perspective to the reader. This type of narrator is not limited by time, space, or a single character's viewpoint, allowing them to reveal thoughts, feelings and motivations of multiple characters. This type of narrator can also provide background information and foreshadow future events.

In the study of GCSE English, recognising an omniscient narrator allows you to explore how and why a writer reveals characters' inner thoughts and multiple perspectives. It can help you comment on the effect of narration on the reader. Being able to identify and explain narration styles can give you a critical edge when discussing narrative viewpoint.

In Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, the narrator frequently shows knowledge of all characters' thoughts and feelings, not just Scrooge's. This allows Dickens to show multiple characters' emotions and guide the moral understanding of the story's message.