Student Question

Who narrates Hemingway's "Soldier's Home" and what impact does this have?

Quick answer:

The narrator of "Soldier's Home" is an unnamed third-person omniscient narrator, which allows the reader to gain comprehensive insight into events, characters' reactions, thoughts, and emotions. This narrative perspective provides a complete view of the story, helping the reader understand various aspects simultaneously, enhancing the depth and complexity of the narrative.

Expert Answers

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The story is told from the point of view of an unnamed, third person, omniscient narrator.  From his vantage point the narrator can recount the sequence of events in the story, give insight into how the characters react and what they are thinking and feeling, and digress to provide background and supplementary information.  This allows the reader to see the whole picture and enables him to develop an understanding of multiple aspects of the story simultaneously.

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