Third person omniscient is a point of view in literature and storytelling where the narrator is not limited to the perspective of a single character, but instead has unrestricted access to the thoughts, feelings, actions, and perspectives of multiple characters. The narrator is like an all-knowing observer who can provide insights into the minds of all the characters in the story, including their motivations, intentions, and secrets.

In a third person omniscient narration, the narrator can switch between different characters’ points of view within the same scene or chapter, allowing the reader to understand the story from multiple angles. The narrator can delve into the inner thoughts and emotions of the characters, revealing their inner conflicts, desires, and fears. This gives the reader a deeper understanding of the characters’ personalities and motivations, and helps to create a more complex and multi-dimensional portrayal of the story’s events.

One of the key features of third person omniscient narration is its objectivity. The narrator remains impartial and does not take sides or show bias towards any particular character. Instead, the narrator presents a balanced and comprehensive view of the story, providing insights into the characters’ perspectives without imposing their own opinions or judgments.

Third person omniscient narration also allows the reader to have a broader understanding of the story’s plot and themes. The narrator can provide information and insights that the characters themselves may not be aware of, and can reveal hidden connections, foreshadowing, and dramatic irony. This creates a sense of dramatic tension and anticipation for the reader, as they are privy to information that the characters may not yet know.

Third person omniscient is a point of view in literature where the narrator has unrestricted access to the thoughts, feelings, actions, and perspectives of multiple characters, providing an all-knowing and objective narration. It allows the reader to gain deeper insights into the characters and the story, and provides a broader understanding of the plot and themes.

Purpose of using Third-person Omniscient

1. Multiple Perspectives: One of the main purposes of using third person omniscient narration is to provide the reader with insights into the inner thoughts, emotions, and perspectives of multiple characters. This allows the reader to see the story from different angles, understand the motivations and desires of various characters, and gain a deeper understanding of their personalities and relationships. It can create a more nuanced and multi-dimensional portrayal of the story’s events and characters, and add depth to the storytelling by showcasing the complexity of human nature and behavior.
2. Objective Narration: Third person omniscient narration tends to be more objective and impartial compared to other point of views, such as first person or limited third person. The narrator does not take sides or show bias towards any particular character, and presents a balanced view of the story’s events. This can create a sense of reliability in the narration, allowing the reader to form their own opinions and interpretations of the story without being limited to a single character’s perspective. It can also provide a sense of distance from the characters and events, which can be useful for exploring controversial or sensitive themes objectively.
3. Broad Access to Information: The omniscient narrator has access to information that the characters themselves may not be aware of. This can be used to provide foreshadowing, hints, and clues about the story’s plot and outcomes, creating suspense, mystery, and anticipation for the reader. The narrator can also reveal hidden connections, backstory, or world-building details that may not be directly witnessed by the characters, enriching the reader’s understanding of the story’s world, history, or context.
4. Flexibility in Storytelling: Third person omniscient narration offers flexibility in storytelling, as the narrator can move freely between different characters, time periods, or settings. This can allow for a more expansive and dynamic narrative structure, with the ability to cover multiple storylines or subplots simultaneously. The narrator can provide a bird’s-eye view of the story’s events, weaving together different perspectives and story threads, and creating a sense of coherence and complexity in the storytelling.
5. Authorial Voice: The omniscient narrator can serve as a vehicle for the author’s voice and style to shine through. The author can use the narrator as a tool for commentary, satire, or reflection on the story’s events, themes, or social commentary. The narrator’s voice can be unique and distinct, adding depth and richness to the storytelling, and allowing the author to share their perspective, opinions, and artistic vision with the reader.
6. Emotional Impact: Third person omniscient narration can also be used to evoke emotional impact in the reader. By providing insights into the inner thoughts and emotions of multiple characters, the narrator can create empathy or sympathy towards their struggles, joys, and sorrows. The reader can develop a deeper emotional connection with the characters, which can enhance their engagement with the story and its themes.
7. Narrative Control: Using third person omniscient narration gives the author greater control over the narrative. The author can guide the reader’s attention to important events or details, manipulate the pacing, and create suspense or surprise by revealing information selectively. The narrator can also provide context, explanations, or interpretations, guiding the reader’s understanding of the story.

In summary, the purposes of using third person omniscient narration in literature and storytelling include providing multiple perspectives, objective narration, broad access to information, flexibility in storytelling, showcasing the author’s voice, evoking emotional impact, and narrative control. It offers unique storytelling possibilities and can enrich the reader’s understanding and experience of the story’s events, characters, and themes.

Examples of third-person omniscient narrative in books

• “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy: This epic historical novel is narrated in third person omniscient, providing a panoramic view of Russian society during the Napoleonic Wars. The omniscient narrator offers insights into the thoughts and experiences of a vast array of characters, capturing their inner lives and the broader historical events.
• “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald: This American classic is narrated in third person omniscient, providing insights into the thoughts and actions of the characters involved in the story, including Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Nick Carraway. The omniscient narrator portrays the glitz and glamour of the Roaring Twenties, as well as the darker themes of disillusionment and the corrupting influence of wealth.
• “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood: This dystopian novel is narrated in third person omniscient, offering a chilling portrayal of a totalitarian society where women’s rights have been severely restricted. The omniscient narrator provides insights into the thoughts and experiences of the protagonist, Offred, as well as other characters, highlighting the oppressive regime and the struggles of the female characters.
• “The Chronicles of the Black Company” by Glen Cook: This dark fantasy series is narrated in third person omniscient, providing a gritty and immersive perspective on a band of mercenaries as they navigate a war-torn world. The omniscient narrator offers insights into the thoughts and actions of the mercenaries, as well as the larger political and magical conflicts of the story.
• “Middlemarch” by George Eliot: This classic Victorian novel is narrated in third person omniscient, offering a nuanced and multi-layered view of the social and personal lives of characters in a provincial English town. The omniscient narrator delves into the inner lives of the characters, providing commentary on the human condition and the complexities of relationships.
• “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams: This comedic science fiction series is narrated in third person omniscient, providing a humorous and whimsical perspective on the adventures of Arthur Dent as he travels through space with his alien friend Ford Prefect. The omniscient narrator adds a witty and satirical tone to the story, providing insights into the bizarre and absurd events that unfold.
• “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien: This beloved fantasy novel is narrated in third person omniscient, offering a captivating account of Bilbo Baggins’ journey to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. The omniscient narrator provides a detailed and immersive view of Middle-earth, as well as insights into the thoughts, fears, and triumphs of Bilbo and the other characters he encounters along the way.
• “The Shining” by Stephen King: This horror novel is narrated in third person omniscient, providing a chilling and suspenseful perspective on the story of the Torrance family’s winter stay at the isolated Overlook Hotel. The omniscient narrator delves into the inner thoughts, fears, and unraveling sanity of the characters, as well as the dark and supernatural forces at play.
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson: This psychological thriller is narrated in third person omniscient, offering a complex and suspenseful view of the investigation into the disappearance of Harriet Vanger. The omniscient narrator provides insights into the thoughts, actions, and motivations of the main characters, as well as the dark and twisted secrets of the Vanger family.
• “The Chronicles of Prydain” series by Lloyd Alexander: This high fantasy series for young readers is narrated in third person omniscient, providing a rich and adventurous perspective on the journey of Taran, an Assistant Pig-Keeper, and his friends as they battle against the forces of evil in the magical land of Prydain. The omniscient narrator captures the bravery, camaraderie, and growth of the characters as they embark on their quest.

These additional examples demonstrate the versatility of third person omniscient narration in various genres, including science fiction, horror, thriller, and young adult fantasy. It highlights how this narrative technique can be used to convey a wide range of tones, moods, and emotions, providing insights into the characters, their motivations, and the worlds they inhabit.

Examples of third-person omniscient in movies

Third-person omniscient is a narrative perspective in which the story is told from an all-knowing, objective point of view. In movies, this perspective is often used to provide insights into multiple characters’ thoughts, feelings, and actions, allowing the audience to have a broader understanding of the story. Here are some examples of movies that utilize third-person omniscient:

• “Forrest Gump” (1994) – The movie follows the life of the titular character, Forrest Gump, from his childhood to adulthood. The story is narrated in third-person omniscient, with a voiceover by Forrest Gump himself. The audience is given insights into Forrest’s thoughts and experiences, as well as those of other characters in his life.
• “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy (2001-2003) – Directed by Peter Jackson, this epic fantasy film series is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. The movies utilize third-person omniscient perspective to provide a comprehensive view of the journey and struggles of various characters, including Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Aragorn, and many others, as they navigate the fantasy world of Middle-earth.
• “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994) – This critically acclaimed drama film, based on a novella by Stephen King, uses third-person omniscient perspective to tell the story of Andy Dufresne, a man who is wrongly convicted of murder and his friendship with fellow inmate, Red. The audience gains insights into the thoughts and motivations of both Andy and Red, as well as other characters in the prison.
• “Pride and Prejudice” (2005) – This romantic drama film, based on Jane Austen’s novel, uses third-person omniscient perspective to provide a comprehensive view of the complex relationships and social dynamics among the characters. The audience gains insights into the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of various characters, including Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and others.
• “The Chronicles of Narnia” series (2005-2010) – Based on C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy novels, these movies utilize third-person omniscient perspective to provide a comprehensive view of the adventures of the Pevensie siblings and other characters in the magical land of Narnia. The perspective allows the audience to gain insights into the thoughts, emotions, and actions of various characters throughout the series.
• “Gone with the Wind” (1939) – This epic historical romance film, based on Margaret Mitchell’s novel, uses third-person omniscient perspective to tell the story of Scarlett O’Hara and her tumultuous love affair with Rhett Butler against the backdrop of the American Civil War. The perspective provides insights into the thoughts, motivations, and actions of various characters, including Scarlett, Rhett, and others.
• “The Great Gatsby” (2013) – Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, this drama film uses third-person omniscient perspective to depict the extravagant and disillusioned world of Jay Gatsby and the Roaring Twenties. The audience gains insights into the thoughts and feelings of various characters, including Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, and Daisy Buchanan.
• “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008) – This fantasy drama film tells the story of Benjamin Button, a man who ages in reverse, from his birth to old age. The movie uses third-person omniscient perspective to provide insights into the thoughts, emotions, and experiences of Benjamin and other characters, as well as the passage of time and societal changes.
• “Sense and Sensibility” (1995) – Based on Jane Austen’s novel, this period drama film uses third-person omniscient perspective to depict the romantic entanglements and social conventions of the Dashwood sisters. The perspective allows the audience to gain insights into the thoughts, emotions, and motivations of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, as well as other characters in the story.
• “Life of Pi” (2012) – This visually stunning adventure drama film, based on Yann Martel’s novel, uses third-person omniscient perspective to tell the story of Pi, a young Indian man who survives a shipwreck and shares a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. The perspective provides insights into Pi’s thoughts, feelings, and struggles, as well as the challenges he faces in the midst of the vast ocean.
• These movies showcase the use of third-person omniscient perspective to provide a comprehensive view of the story and characters, allowing the audience to gain insights into their thoughts, emotions, and motivations. It adds depth and complexity to the narrative, enhancing the overall storytelling experience.