I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Is it okay to have a character who doesn’t actually have a name?



Asked by: Susan Adams

What does it mean when a character doesn’t have a name?





One way to use this literary device is to have an anonymous narrator who plays no part in the story, but who merely acts as an observer telling the tale. Or, in a work that is based on allegory, an unnamed character can be identified by a number, letter, job, or common trait to symbolize a hidden meaning.

Does a character have to have a name?

So no, names are not necessary. However, you’ll have to evaluate for yourself whether naming your own characters will work better for your story. Show activity on this post. There are situations in which having a nameless character works, but it takes a lot of skill to bring off.

Do character names matter?

The right name can help the reader easily identify each character. On the other hand, going too “creative” with your name choices can distract or even confuse your reader. The wrong name can take the reader out of the story and cause him or her to question why you, the author, made such an inane choice.

How do you reference a nameless character?

As @DoWhileNot suggests, if you can give the character a brief description, use that. Like, “the husband”, “the traveler”, “the soldier”, etc. Some writers give him a letter. I’ve read papers that say things like, “The character is not given a name in the story, so I shall refer to him as ‘M'”.



Which novel has a nameless narrator?



Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

The African-American narrator of Ellison’s postwar novel considers himself invisible, and the withholding of his name is a sign that he has no social identity. Ironically, having migrated from the south, he has become a political activist in New York, acquiring a “name” as a speech-maker.

What is the name for a narrator who knows everything that is happening including what each character is thinking?

There are two types of third-person point of view: omniscient, in which the narrator knows all of the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the story, or limited, in which the narrator relates only their own thoughts, feelings, and knowledge about various situations and the other characters.

What is an unreliable character?

In literature, an unreliable narrator is a character who tells a story with a lack of credibility.

What is limited third-person?

What Is Third Person Limited? Third person limited point of view (or POV) is a narration style that gives the perspective of a single character. Most novels are written in one of two styles: First person, which involves a narrator who tells their story.

What is God like narrator?

As the name suggests, this god-like narrator knows everything about the characters and the plot. In addition, he or she is able to predict the future and make assumptions and judgments. The use of this omniscient point of view was very common in nineteenth-century novels.

What is it called when a narrator knows everything?

The third person omniscient point of view is the most open and flexible POV available to writers. As the name implies, an omniscient narrator is all-seeing and all-knowing. While the narration outside of any one character, the narrator may occasionally access the consciousness of a few or many different characters.



What is the 3rd person?

Definition of third person

1a : a set of linguistic forms (such as verb forms, pronouns, and inflectional affixes) referring to one that is neither the speaker or writer of the utterance in which they occur nor the one to whom that utterance is addressed “they” is a pronoun of the third person.

What limited first person?

First Person Point of View is Limited

First person narrators are narrated from a single character’s perspective at a time. They cannot be everywhere at once and thus cannot get all sides of the story. They are telling their story, not necessarily the story.

What POV should I write in?

If you want to write the entire story in individual, quirky language, choose first person. If you want your POV character to indulge in lengthy ruminations, choose first person. If you want your reader to feel high identification with your POV character, choose first person or close third.



What is third-person POV?

Third Person Point of View. In third-person narration, the narrator exists outside the events of the story, and relates the actions of the characters by referring to their names or by the third-person pronouns he, she, or they.

What are the 3 types of 3rd person?

The 3 Types of Third Person Point of View in Writing

  • Third-person omniscient point of view. The omniscient narrator knows everything about the story and its characters. …
  • Third-person limited omniscient. …
  • Third-person objective.

Is the word my first-person?

First-person pronouns. Examples: I, we, me, us, my, mine, our, and ours. refer to the writer. They include I, me, my, mine, our, ours, us, and we.

How can you make your narrator seem like a real person?

One common trap with writing first person stories is that the narrator sounds a lot like the voice of the author, pegged onto a series of events. To give your narrator real personality, make sure that their voice is consistent with what you tell the reader about their backstory and ongoing development.