Which term refers to a narrator who has complete understanding of all characters' thoughts and motives?

Which term refers to a narrator who has complete understanding of all characters' thoughts and motives?

• A. Narrator
• B. Omniscient narrator
• C. Second-person narrative
• D. First-person narrative

Answer: (B)

Knowing all characters' thoughts and motives is the mark of an omniscient narrator. This kind of narration isn’t tied to a single character; the voice can move between minds, reveal private motives, and even offer commentary on events from a broader perspective. It lets you see what multiple characters think and why they act, not just what one character experiences. By contrast, a first-person narrator is limited to one character’s perspective and inner thoughts, while second-person narration addresses the reader as “you” and doesn’t typically reveal multiple inner perspectives. A plain narrator is a broader term that doesn’t specify access to characters’ inner thoughts. So the term that best fits complete knowledge of all characters’ thoughts and motives is omniscient narrator.

Knowing all characters' thoughts and motives is the mark of an omniscient narrator. This kind of narration isn’t tied to a single character; the voice can move between minds, reveal private motives, and even offer commentary on events from a broader perspective. It lets you see what multiple characters think and why they act, not just what one character experiences. By contrast, a first-person narrator is limited to one character’s perspective and inner thoughts, while second-person narration addresses the reader as “you” and doesn’t typically reveal multiple inner perspectives. A plain narrator is a broader term that doesn’t specify access to characters’ inner thoughts. So the term that best fits complete knowledge of all characters’ thoughts and motives is omniscient narrator.