What is an unreliable narrator and in which genres is it common?

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Multiple Choice

What is an unreliable narrator and in which genres is it common?

An unreliable narrator is one whose credibility is compromised, meaning you can’t take everything they say at face value because their perspective is biased, mistaken, or even deceptive. This device invites readers to read closely, weighing clues and considering what other characters or events show beyond the narrator’s account. It’s especially common in gothic fiction, where distorted realities and eerie atmosphere create doubt about what’s real, and in psychological fiction, where the narrator’s mental state shapes what they perceive. The other descriptions describe a narrator who is fully credible, who only states facts, or who knows everyone’s thoughts—none of which captures the idea of an unreliable voice that misleads or misinterprets.

An unreliable narrator is one whose credibility is compromised, meaning you can’t take everything they say at face value because their perspective is biased, mistaken, or even deceptive. This device invites readers to read closely, weighing clues and considering what other characters or events show beyond the narrator’s account. It’s especially common in gothic fiction, where distorted realities and eerie atmosphere create doubt about what’s real, and in psychological fiction, where the narrator’s mental state shapes what they perceive. The other descriptions describe a narrator who is fully credible, who only states facts, or who knows everyone’s thoughts—none of which captures the idea of an unreliable voice that misleads or misinterprets.

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