Which narrative perspective is characterized by an external narrator who only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character?

Prepare for the AP English Literature and Composition exam. Utilize quizzes with literary terms, hints, and explanations to improve your study efficiency and exam readiness.

The third person limited narrative perspective is characterized by an external narrator who has insight into the thoughts and feelings of only one character. This allows readers to experience the story through the lens of that specific character's internal emotional landscape while keeping a certain distance from other characters' thoughts and emotions. The narrator describes actions, events, and observations from this one character's point of view, creating a focused and intimate connection with them while maintaining the narrative voice as separate from that character.

In contrast, the first person perspective immerses the reader in the thoughts and experiences of a narrator who is also a character in the story. The omniscient perspective provides a broader view, as the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters in the story. The second person perspective directly addresses the reader using "you," which creates an engaging and immediate connection but does not confine the narrative to a single character's thoughts. Thus, third person limited distinctly stands out by limiting insight to just one character, making it the correct choice.

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