Here's why:
* Focus on Sarty's Perspective: The narrator primarily reveals the thoughts and feelings of Sarty, the young protagonist. We see the world through Sarty's eyes, experiencing his internal struggles and moral dilemmas.
* Limited Knowledge: The narrator doesn't have access to the full thoughts and motivations of all characters. For example, we don't know precisely what Abner, Sarty's father, is thinking or feeling in many scenes.
* Objective Observations: The narrator often describes events objectively, without revealing the inner workings of characters other than Sarty. This emphasizes the distance between Sarty and other characters, reflecting his confusion and isolation.
Example: In the scene where Sarty witnesses his father burning down the barn, the narrator doesn't fully reveal Abner's motives. We only see Abner's actions and hear his words, leaving us to interpret his intentions based on Sarty's reactions.
In contrast to omniscient narration, where the narrator knows everything about all characters and their motivations, the limited omniscience in "Barn Burning" focuses our attention on Sarty's journey and challenges us to understand the complexities of the story from his perspective.