S H P R

I O
L J
G

E
E N

C T
ANALYSIS OF

NARRATION
STYLES
FEBA ANNIE ANU
12 I
2025 - 2026
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank
everyone who helped me in completing this English
project.

I am especially grateful to my teacher, Ms. Janette

Lawrence, for her patient guidance, constant
encouragement, and valuable advice. Her suggestions
greatly helped me in improving both the content and
presentation of my work.

I would also like to thank my family and friends for their

support, understanding, and motivation. Their
encouragement gave me the confidence to complete this
project on time.

Finally, I am thankful to Gems Our Own English High

School for providing the resources and materials that
made my research possible.
This project has been completed with the help and
support of all these
people, and I am truly appreciative of their contributions.
 INDEX
Sr. No. Topic Remarks

1 Certificate

2 Statement Of Purpose

3 Action Plan

4 Essay

5 Student Reflection

6 Bibliography
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
This project titled “Analysis Of Narration
Styles in Novels” is a part of the Grade 12
English Practical Coursework.

The aim of the project is to gain an in-depth

understanding of how different narration
styles shape storytelling, influence reader
experience, and enhance the meaning and
impact of novels.

It has helped me to probe deeper into

personal enquiry, hone my speaking and
listening skills and reflect on the knowledge
gained during this learning experience. This
has resulted in the production of an
independent piece of work
 ACTION PLAN
TOPIC COMPLETED

Research and decision on the

May 15th 2025
topic of the project

Submission of synopsis of the

project for
June 5th 2025
approval to the teacher.

Synopsis read and approved by

teacher 28th June 2025

Research work, consulting

teacher, conducting
interviews, and writing essays
7th - 15th July 2025
based on
observations.

Complete documentation of
report 17th August 2025

Student submission of report for

initial
8th September 2025
evaluation.

Teacher evaluation and feedback

on report. 20th September 2025

Final submission of project after

incorporating all
9th October
pointers and feedback.

Viva voce by examiner

20th November 2025
 ESSAY
The idea of choosing this topic for our essay began when one of us came across a short
TED-Ed video explaining the differences between first person, second person, and third
person narration in writing. The video immediately caught our interest and soon turned
into a discussion about the books we had read with different perspectives and narration
styles. That discussion led us to finalize our topic: Different Narration Styles in Novels.
To study narration more closely, we decided to read and analyze three books with very
distinct styles: The Secret History by Donna Tartt, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. Each of these books uses narration in a unique way, giving
us a wide scope for comparison.

The Secret History explores the theme of dark academia through the story of six students,
chosen by an elitist Greek professor to join his exclusive class in a small New England
college. What makes this book fascinating is the way the setting is presented. Although the
college is ordinary, it never feels that way when you read the book. Instead, it feels like a
dream-like academic paradise. This is because the narrator, Richard Papen, one of the six
students, admits that his flaw is “a morbid longing for the picturesque.” In other words, he
tends to romanticize everything that fascinates him, ignoring its flaws.

The novel is written in Richard’s first-person perspective, which makes him an unreliable
narrator. What stands out in Donna Tartt’s writing is that this unreliability isn’t obvious at
first. On your first reading, Richard seems convincing and trustworthy, and it is only when
you look deeper that you realize how much of the story is filtered through his own biases.
The plot follows the group of students as one of them is murdered. The events before and
after the murder are told entirely from Richard’s perspective. Because of the way he
narrates, it feels like he is a central part of the group and that the others fully trust him
with their secrets. But when you reflect on it, you realize that this closeness is not as real
as Richard makes it appear—it is all a carefully constructed narrative
If we step back and view The Secret History from a third-person perspective, it becomes
clearer how Richard idolized the group. In his mind, he believed he was slowly becoming
part of an exclusive world of untouchable elites. Yet later in the story, when he is shot, he
notes how nobody really noticed him. This moment cracks the illusion he had built for
himself. Through his narration, the murder feels almost acceptable, the professor’s
strange behaviour appears fascinating, and ordinary life is portrayed as dull and
unworthy. It is this manipulative way of storytelling that makes The Secret History such a
powerful and thought-provoking read.

The next book we explored is The Book Thief. This novel stands out for having one of the
most unique narrators in literature. Its opening line—“Here is a small fact: You are going
to die”—is often quoted as a perfect example of how to begin a book. Right away, it makes
readers wonder: Who is speaking? The directness of the line creates intrigue, and while it
may seem like a character is narrating in the first person, it is revealed that the story is
told by none other than Death itself. Markus Zusak transforms Death into a fully
developed character—an abstract idea given voice, perspective, and even personality.
Because the narrator is so unusual, the style of narration is equally striking. Death does
not speak coldly or without feeling. Instead, he describes death with a strange sense of
beauty, notices colours with symbolic meaning, and shows empathy toward the people he
observes.

This narration style makes the story unforgettable. The novel follows the early life of
Liesel Meminger, a young girl living with foster parents in Nazi Germany. Although Death
speaks in the first person, he also acts almost like a third-person narrator, watching over
Liesel and recounting events from a distance. He may not dive deeply into every
character’s inner emotions, but he provides a moving and insightful overview of their
experiences.

Death himself is unfeeling, only observant, yet makes you feel for the characters and
induces such a sense of pity for the setting itself. The style of narration is so well put
that even trivial incidents carry so much intrigue and play out as purposeful to the
plot. Thus the narration becomes one of the main reasons why The Book Thief is
such a good read.

The last book in our study is ‘Six of Crows’. While the two previous books have a
person/entity doing narrations, in Six of Crows the style of narration is stream of
consciousness. The book is vastly different genre wise from the other two reads.
Six of Crows cannot be considered at the same level of reading as them.
However, it can be taken as one of the best of its own kind.
If we look at The Secret History from an outside perspective, it becomes clear how
Richard idolized the group. In his mind, he thought he was slowly becoming part
of their elite circle. But later in the story, when he is shot, he points out how
nobody seemed to notice him. This moment breaks the illusion he had created for
himself. Through his narration, the murder almost feels acceptable, the professor’s
strange behaviour appears admirable, and ordinary life is shown as dull. This
subtle manipulation in the way Richard tells the story is what makes The Secret
History such a deep and thought-provoking novel.

The next book we studied is The Book Thief. This novel stands out for having one
of the most unusual narrators in literature. Its opening line—“Here is a small fact:
You are going to die”—is often used as an example of a powerful beginning.
Immediately, it makes the reader curious: Who is speaking? At first, it feels like a
character in the story might be narrating, but we soon learn that the story is
actually told by Death. Markus Zusak personifies Death in such a unique way that
he feels almost human, with his own voice, thoughts, and emotions.

Because the narrator is so different, the style of narration is also memorable.

Death is not cold or harsh. Instead, he notices colours, uses them symbolically, and
even shows compassion for the people he observes. This makes the narration
powerful and moving. The story follows Liesel Meminger, a young girl growing up
in Nazi Germany with her foster parents. Although Death speaks in the first
person, he often feels like a third-person narrator too, watching over Liesel’s life
from a distance. He may not reveal every inner emotion of the characters, but he
gives a thoughtful and emotional overview of their lives and struggles.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
[Link]
analysis/narrative-perspective/

[Link]
STUDENT REFLEC TION
Studying different narrative styles has changed the way I look at stories. Earlier, I used to
focus only on the plot and characters, but now I understand that the way a story is told
can completely shape how we experience it. Elements like point of view, the Student
narrator’s voice, and the structure of the story all play an important role in how we
connect with the characters and themes.

For instance, a first-person narration feels more personal and immediate, as we see
events directly through the narrator’s eyes and emotions. On the other hand, third-
person narration gives us some distance, letting us see the bigger picture and understand
the story in a wider context. I also noticed how an author’s choice of words, tone, and
imagery adds depth to the story. Even simple sentences can carry strong emotions, and
the way scenes are described can make them feel powerful or meaningful.

Overall, analyzing narrative styles has helped me appreciate storytelling more deeply. It
showed me that every choice an author makes is intentional and shapes the way we read,
feel, and interpret the story.