Here's a breakdown of its key characteristics:
* Narrator is a character: The person telling the story is directly involved in the events and experiences being described.
* Limited perspective: The reader only sees and knows what the narrator sees and knows. Other characters' thoughts and feelings are only revealed if the narrator is aware of them.
* Personal voice: The story is told from a subjective perspective, reflecting the narrator's biases, opinions, and emotional responses.
* Direct engagement with the reader: The reader experiences the events through the narrator's eyes and is often drawn into their thoughts and feelings.
Examples:
* "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger: Told from the perspective of Holden Caulfield, a teenage boy.
* "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: Narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in the American South.
* "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank: A diary written by Anne Frank, a Jewish girl hiding from the Nazis during World War II.
Advantages of First-Person Narrative:
* Intimacy and immediacy: The reader feels directly connected to the narrator and their experiences.
* Emotional depth: The reader can deeply understand the narrator's emotions and motivations.
* Authenticity and realism: The story feels more personal and grounded.
Disadvantages of First-Person Narrative:
* Limited perspective: The reader only sees the story through one character's eyes, which can limit the scope of the narrative.
* Subjectivity and bias: The narrator's perspective may be unreliable or biased, making it difficult to fully trust the events of the story.
* Limited access to other characters' thoughts and feelings: The reader may not fully understand the motivations and experiences of other characters.