* Narrator: The voice that tells the story. This voice can be a character within the story (first-person narrator), an outside observer (third-person narrator), or even an omniscient being that knows everything about the story and characters.
* Author: The person who wrote the story.
The narrator is not the same as the author.
Here's why:
* Distinct Identities: The author creates the narrator, but they are not the same person. The narrator's personality, perspective, and knowledge are entirely separate from the author's.
* Narrative Choice: Authors choose a specific narrator to tell the story for a reason. They might want a particular viewpoint, tone, or level of knowledge to be conveyed to the reader.
* Fictional vs. Real: The narrator is a fictional entity within the story, while the author is a real person who exists outside of it.
Example:
In Jane Austen's *Pride and Prejudice*, the narrator is an omniscient third-person narrator. This narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters and guides us through the story. However, the author, Jane Austen, is a separate entity. She crafted the story, but she is not the voice that tells it.
It's easy to confuse the narrator with the author, especially when reading first-person narratives, but remember that they are distinct entities.