Mind reading is the key to understanding the types of narrators and points of view in narratives. Narrative story is the one way a person can enter the mind of another person. That’s one reason we read stories.
I use the term “mind reading” to explain to students how the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of characters. As I wrote this, I was surprised to find that I am the only person who uses this term this way to teach students about narrators. After you read this, you will start using it too!
Before we begin, you must understand that we have two main types of narrators. These two types of narrators break up into these six types of narrators:
1. First-Person Narrator: 1) Central Character, 2) Peripheral Character
2. Third-Person Narrator: 1) Objective, 2) Omniscient, 3) Limited, 4) Shifting
What is Mind Reading?
Mind reading is a third-person narrator fiction story technique. By definition, “Third Person: Limited” narrators and “Third Person: Omniscient” narrators are mind readers, which is why it is essential to understand mind reading—both as a reader and as a writer.
Mind reading is what it sounds like. The third-person narrator knows what one or more of the characters is thinking and tells us all about it. By mind reading, the third-person narrator can tell us (1) what characters think but don’t say, (2) what characters remember from the past, (3) what characters believe and why they believe it, (4) what characters are secretly planning to do, (5) what the characters’ deepest, innermost thoughts are, etc.
To be clear, mind reading is ubiquitous—i.e., extremely common. Here is an example that illustrates just how common it is.
» Sally and Ron both knew the correct answer was eight, but neither raised their hand.
Nothing is shocking or surprising about that sentence in a narrative story. BUT, how did the narrator know that Sally and Ron knew the correct answer? There is only one way the narrator could have known that: the narrator knows what Sally and Ron are thinking. The narrator read their minds and told us what they were thinking. It’s that simple.
Here is how it would sound without mind-reading. Since first-person and “third-person objective” narrators can’t mind read, this is what they would write. These narrators can’t read minds, so they watch and observe, and they tell their readers what they see.
» Sally and Ron both looked as if they knew the correct answer, but neither raised their hand.
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Narrative Point of View, Theory of Mind, and Mind Reading
Why do we read fiction? Why is fiction important? This title provides an interesting answer: Why We Read Fiction: Theory of Mind and the Novel (2006) by Lisa Zunshine. For our purposes, you don’t need to read the book because the title makes the point.
As children, we develop what psychologists call “Theory of Mind.” Put simply, we learn that our thoughts and feelings are our own, and that other people have their own thoughts and feelings. As an example, we develop the ability to see that although we may feel happy, another person may feel sad. We develop the human skills of empathy and understanding as we learn to grasp how other people think and feel.
In one sense, we read stories to enter the minds’ of the characters. We think, “Yes, I felt that same way once. I’m not alone in what I think and feel!” Narrative story is the one way we can enter the mind of another person. Think about that.
Point of View: Do You Agree or Disagree?
Are you beginning to see that point of view is about more than the pronouns a writer uses? Point of view has a specific meaning. It means “how a person sees and interprets things; it’s a person’s perspective.” A first-person narrator tells a story from his or her perspective. A third-person narrator tells a story from its eye-in-the-sky observer perspective.
We all develop a point of view or perspective about things by having experiences and by learning. We combine this new knowledge with what we already know, believe, and value. When you and another person agree on an issue for the same reasons, you share a similar point of view on that issue. If you agree on that issue but agree for different reasons, your point of view is less similar. If you disagree on the issue, you likely see things differently.
Whose Story Is It?
Even with a cast of thousands, a movie is usually one person’s story. Even when there are five main characters, most people will agree on whose story it is. More often than not, a story is one person’s story.
In the story of the tortoise and the hare, whose story is it? It’s the tortoise’s story! Slow and steady wins the race! No matter how the story is told, it’s the tortoise’s story and the tortoise’s point of view!
Point of View: Bring Clarity and Consistency to Your Stories
The best time to think about this stuff is while you are reading great narrative stories! To a large degree, we learn to write great stories by reading great stories. By studying the following examples, you will know what to look for as you read your next great story.
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Point of View Examples: The Driving Lesson
We are going to look at three short stories that center around a driving lesson. In each of these stories, a parent is teaching one of their children to drive. In all of these examples, there is almost no action and very little dialogue. Each story’s action is primarily one event: a hard left turn into a dirt field. That’s it! Most of the story takes place in the characters’ minds.
We will examine three different types of narrator:
1. First-Person Point of View
2. Third Person: Limited Point of View
3. Third Person: Omniscient Point of View
1. First-Person Point of View
My mom looked at me in horror. “What are you doing?”
I responded with a smile, “I’m driving.” Although I knew I was doing a great job driving, I could see that my mom disagreed. You see, I had found a shortcut through a dirt field… and I took it. I know that this is a driving lesson, but my ingenious idea will save us over five minutes. Making excellent time is extremely important to me!
Analysis:
Whose story is it? Whose point of view is it? We see the story through the first-person narrator’s eyes. The narrator tells us about the mom, and we see the mom’s reactions through the narrator’s eyes.
Does the narrator mind read? The first-person narrator can only read his or her own mind. Most of this story is the first-person narrator telling us his or her thoughts. First-person narrators frequently tell us about their thoughts.
2. Third Person: Limited Point of View
Mr. Hutch looked at his daughter in horror. “What are you doing?”
Emily responded with a smile, “I’m driving.”
Mr. Hutch was both confused and frightened. Everything had been going great! He thought he had been doing a fantastic job teaching his young daughter to drive safely! Then all of a sudden, for no reason at all, his daughter swerved hard left over a small divider and up into a brushy dirt field. They were currently headed due north at 25 miles per hour over bumps and weeds and tumbleweeds into what looked like a dusty abyss. What was she thinking? What was she doing?
Emily’s smile disappeared as she looked over at her dad. “Are you okay, Dad? You look sick.”
Analysis:
Whose story is it? Whose point of view is it? We see all of this through the third-person eye-in-the-sky narrator’s point of view. The narrator tells us about the character by using their names and third-person pronouns. However, since the narrator reads Mr. Hutch’s mind, we know everything that Mr. Hutch thinks. It seems that this is Mr. Hutch’s story.
Does the narrator mind read? This third-person narrator spends a great deal of time reading Mr. Hutch’s mind and tells us all about it. The narrator does not read Emily’s mind, so we can only guess what Emily is thinking by observing her actions and words, along with what others say about her.
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3. Third Person: Omniscient Point of View
Mrs. McKenzie had been thrilled with how the driving lesson had been going. But now, she looked at her son in horror. “What are you doing?”
Hank responded with a half-smile, “I’m driving.” Hank knew his mom didn’t understand him. She never would! In fact, Hank was quite sure his mom was questioning his choice of turning hard left into that dirt field at this very moment.
Although Mrs. McKenzie was terrified, she tried not to show it. Ever since Hank’s father had left for the International Space Station, Mrs. McKenzie had done everything she could to support her son. But now, she was wondering if she had indulged him a bit too much. “Hank, honey, I hope we are not going to drive into that dusty abyss. I just had the car washed.”
Hank couldn’t believe it! He knew she didn’t understand! If his father were here, he would understand. Hank thought back to his father’s last words, “When driving, nothing is more important than making good time!” Well, Hank was making excellent time! That’s what’s important! You see, Hank had discovered a secret shortcut to the shopping center, and he was going to save them time!
Analysis:
Whose story is it? Whose point of view is it? It’s a little difficult to tell whose story this is because the narrator devotes near equal time to each character. Additionally, the narrator mind reads both characters. Having said that, it’ pretty much “all about Hank.”
Does the narrator mind read? The narrator mind-reads both characters. Once again, there is minimal action or dialogue in this story. The story is mainly composed of the third-person eye-in-the-sky narrator telling us what the characters are thinking.
A Final Note: Mind Reading vs. Just Knowing a Person or Character
When we write in first person, our first-person narrator knows what he or she is thinking. Although our first-person narrator knows his or her own mind, our narrator can’t read any other characters’ minds.
However, do you have any friends or family members with whom you can pretty much read their minds at times? Take a look at this:
» Jimmy wants to eat that last piece of pizza, but he knows he’s already had more than his fair share. Right now, he’s probably thinking, “Who’s going to be mad at me if I eat it?”
Does this sound like someone you know? Well, it sounds like me, so I’m pretty sure it’s what Jimmy is thinking. Although our first-person narrator can’t be sure of that, it’s a good guess, and it makes for a good story to make guesses like that. It’s a type of character description. Of course, first-person narrators need to use an occasional “probably,” “I think,” “I know,” “I can tell,” or “It looks like” to clarify that the narrator is not mind reading.
Finally, in life and in writing, people don’t always use “I believe” or “I think” for things that they believe or think. We make statements, and people understand that we are stating our point of view. That’s not mind reading; that’s just the way people talk.
