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Author vs. Narrator: What's the Difference?

Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on October 6, 2023
An author is the creator and original writer of a literary work. The narrator is the voice or character that tells the story within that work.

Key Differences

The terms author and narrator, while both associated with literature, serve distinct roles in the realm of storytelling. An author is the individual responsible for composing and creating the original content of a literary piece. This individual brings to life the plot, characters, setting, and themes, using their unique perspective and style. Authors exist outside the story they pen, crafting narratives based on inspiration, experiences, or pure imagination.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023
Contrastingly, the narrator is the voice or entity within the story that relates events to the reader. Narrators might be characters in the story, offering a firsthand account, or they could be external entities providing a third-person perspective. The relationship between the author and narrator is intricate. While the author creates the narrator, the narrator's voice, opinions, and perceptions aren't necessarily those of the author.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023
For instance, in fiction, authors often develop narrators that possess beliefs or views vastly different from their own. These narrators provide depth and diversity to the narrative. Hence, while the author is the mastermind behind a work's existence, the narrator is the lens through which readers experience the tale.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023
Furthermore, it's worth noting that while every literary work has an author, not all need a clear, defined narrator. Some stories are written in such a way that events seem to unfold on their own without a distinct voice guiding the narrative. In such cases, the boundary between author and narrator might appear blurred, but the distinction remains: the author is the creator, and the narrator, if present, is the storyteller.
Harlon Moss
Oct 06, 2023

Comparison Chart

Definition

The creator and writer of a literary work
The voice or character that conveys the story
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Oct 06, 2023
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Position

Exists outside the story
Exists within the story
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Oct 06, 2023

Voice

Personal, real-world perspective
Can be first-person, third-person, omniscient, etc.
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Oct 06, 2023

Consistency

One per work (generally)
Multiple narrators possible in a single work
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Oct 06, 2023

Personal Beliefs

Not always reflected in the work
Can possess distinct beliefs and perspectives
Sara Rehman
Oct 06, 2023

Author and Narrator Definitions

Author

A person who commits or carries out a specific act.
The author of that crime was never found.
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Oct 06, 2023
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Narrator

An individual who describes events in a documentary or show.
The narrator of the documentary had a deep, resonant voice.
Janet White
Oct 06, 2023

Author

The writer of a particular work, article, or report.
The author of the article remains anonymous.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 06, 2023

Narrator

The teller of events in a story, distinct from the author.
The unreliable narrator made readers question the truth.
Harlon Moss
Oct 06, 2023

Author

A person who originates or gives existence to something.
She is the author of her own destiny.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 06, 2023

Narrator

A character or entity that recounts events in a literary work.
The narrator in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden Caulfield.
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Oct 06, 2023
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Author

The writer of a book, article, or other text.
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Dec 26, 2022

Narrator

Someone who provides commentary or elucidation.
The play had a narrator who explained historical context.
Janet White
Oct 06, 2023

Author

One who practices writing as a profession.
Sawaira Riaz
Dec 26, 2022

Narrator

The voice that communicates directly with readers or listeners.
The story's narrator provided insightful commentary.
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Oct 06, 2023

Author

One who writes or constructs an electronic document or system, such as a website.
Sawaira Riaz
Dec 26, 2022

Narrator

A person who narrates, such as one who provides off-screen commentary in a documentary.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

An originator or creator, as of a theory or plan.
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Dec 26, 2022

Narrator

A character in literature, especially a novel or short story, who relates the plot and sometimes plays a role in the story.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

Author God.
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Dec 26, 2022

Narrator

A character in a fictional movie, play, or similar production who comments on what is happening, often through voice-over.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

To write or be the author of (a published text).
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Dec 26, 2022

Narrator

One who narrates or tells stories.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

To write or construct (an electronic document or system)
Authored the company's website.
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Dec 26, 2022

Narrator

(narratology) The person or the "voice" whose viewpoint is used in telling a story.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

The originator or creator of a work, especially of a literary composition.
The copyright of any original writing belongs initially and properly to its author.
Have you read any Corinthian authors?
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Dec 26, 2022

Narrator

The person providing the voice-over in a documentary.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

Someone who writes books for a living.
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Dec 26, 2022

Narrator

One who narrates; one who relates a series of events or transactions.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

Principal.
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Dec 26, 2022

Narrator

Someone who tells a story
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

(obsolete) One's authority for something: an informant.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

To create a work as its author.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

The beginner, former, or first mover of anything; hence, the efficient cause of a thing; a creator; an originator.
Eternal King; thee, Author of all being.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

One who composes or writes a book; a composer, as distinguished from an editor, translator, or compiler.
The chief glory of every people arises from its authors.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

The editor of a periodical.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

An informant.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

To occasion; to originate.
Such an overthrow . . . I have authored.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

To tell; to say; to declare.
More of him I dare not author.
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

Writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

Someone who originates or causes or initiates something;
He was the generator of several complaints
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Dec 26, 2022

Author

Be the author of;
She authored this play
Sawaira Riaz
Dec 26, 2022

Author

The individual who writes and creates a literary piece.
The author of that novel won multiple awards.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 06, 2023

Author

The initiator or cause of a situation or event.
He was the author of his own downfall.
Sara Rehman
Oct 06, 2023

FAQs

Can an author also be a narrator?

Yes, especially in autobiographical works.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Does every story have a narrator?

Most do, but some narratives might not have a distinct voice.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Can an author's voice be present in a story?

Authors might leave subtle traces, but they're distinct from the narrator's voice.
Sara Rehman
Oct 06, 2023

Are authors real while narrators are fictional?

Authors are real individuals, while narrators are typically fictional constructs.
Janet White
Oct 06, 2023

Why might an author choose a specific narrator?

To offer a unique perspective, evoke emotions, or serve the story's theme.
Janet White
Oct 06, 2023

What's an "unreliable narrator"?

A narrator whose credibility is compromised.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Are the narrator's opinions always those of the author?

No, narrators can possess differing or even opposing views.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Who decides the narrator's perspective?

The author chooses or creates the narrator's point of view.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

What's the primary distinction between an author and a narrator?

An author creates the literary work, while a narrator tells the story within it.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Can a book have multiple narrators?

Yes, some stories switch between different narrators.
Janet White
Oct 06, 2023

Is the narrator always a character in the story?

No, narrators can also be external, omniscient entities.
Harlon Moss
Oct 06, 2023

Can there be a story without an author?

Every story has a creator, making the author integral.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Do all narrators speak?

No, some might just convey events without dialogue.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 06, 2023

Do poems have narrators?

Many poems have a speaker, which can be seen as a form of narrator.
Harlon Moss
Oct 06, 2023

Can a narrator's identity be a twist in a story?

Yes, some stories reveal the narrator's identity as a plot twist.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Why is the distinction between author and narrator important?

It aids in understanding narrative structure, perspective, and literary analysis.
Janet White
Oct 06, 2023

Do narrators know everything?

Some, called "omniscient narrators," know all, while others might be limited.
Harlon Moss
Oct 06, 2023

How does one identify the narrator in a story?

By discerning whose voice or perspective guides the narrative.
Sara Rehman
Oct 06, 2023

Are memoirs written by narrators?

Memoirs blur the lines, as the author is often the narrator recounting personal experiences.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 06, 2023

Who has control over the story, the author or the narrator?

The author controls the overall story, including the narrator's role.
Sara Rehman
Oct 06, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira Riaz
Sawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma Saeed
Huma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.

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