Ontario Grade 9 English Practice Exam

The term "third person limited" specifically refers to a narrative perspective where the story is told through the eyes of a single character. In this point of view, the narrator primarily focuses on the experiences, thoughts, and feelings of one character, allowing the reader to gain a deeper understanding of that character's inner world. However, the narrator does not have access to the thoughts or feelings of other characters—this creates a sense of intimacy with the main character while maintaining a level of distance from others. This narrative technique is effective for exploring the subjective experience of the chosen character and can help build empathy and connection for readers.

In contrast, the other choices describe different narrative styles. A narrator who knows everything about all characters would represent "third person omniscient," where insights into various characters' thoughts and feelings are presented. An outsider with no perspective aligns more with "third person objective," where the narrator only reports on observable actions and dialogue without offering any internal thoughts. Finally, sharing the thoughts of every character again denotes "third person omniscient" rather than a limited perspective, as this form provides a more comprehensive view of all characters involved. Thus, understanding the definition of "third person limited" clarifies why focusing on just one character's viewpoint is