Third person limited is a point of view in which the narrator tells the story from one characters perspective at a time, using the pronouns he, she, and they to describe their thoughts and actions. The narrator has access to the thoughts and emotions of just one character, and the reader can only infer what other characters feel and think from what the viewpoint character observes of their behavior. This point of view offers access to a characters inner thoughts and emotions, much in the same way that first-person narration does, creating a sense of personal and emotional engagement with the reader.
Some key features of third person limited include:
- The narrator tells the story from the perspective of a single protagonist, referring to them by name or using third-person pronouns such as she/he/they.
- The narrator is separate from the character, talking about them using their name or third-person pronouns.
- The narrator only has deep insight into one character per scene, and in most cases, even takes on aspects of their tone and voice.
Third person limited is one of the most flexible points of view in fiction writing, and it is a popular way to tell a story. It allows the writer to create a personal and engaging narrative while still maintaining some distance from the character.
