The Unlikely Narrator: How Unconventional Storytellers Change the Game
Storytelling is an ancient art. Humans have always gathered around fires, swapping tales of love, war, adventure, and that time Dave allegedly wrestled a bear (but, conveniently, no one was there to see it). We’ve grown used to hearing these stories through the voices of noble heroes, reliable witnesses, and wise sages who know precisely how the world works. But what about The Unlikely Narrator and How Do Unconventional Storytellers Change the Game”
But what if the storyteller doesn’t fit the mold? What if they aren’t wise? What if they aren’t even human?
This is where the unlikely narrator enters the scene, strutting (or flapping) onto the literary stage to offer a completely new way of looking at the world. These narrators bring something fresh, something surprising—perspectives we never knew we needed, but suddenly can’t get enough of.
Take, for example, the parrot in Solero: A Parrot’s Tale by Brien Cole. A parrot! A bird! A creature that usually concerns itself with mimicking human speech and terrorizing people’s fingers, now telling a tale of love, war, and legacy. And yet, it works. Because sometimes, the best way to understand humanity is through the eyes of something other than human.
Why Readers Love an Unlikely Narrator
There’s something thrilling about stepping outside the usual framework of storytelling. When a novel hands the microphone to someone—or something—unexpected, it forces us to rethink everything we take for granted.
- They bring fresh perspectives – When a child, an animal, or an eccentric outsider tells the story, they notice things others might overlook. They’re unburdened by conventional thinking, which often leads to the most profound insights.
- They challenge our assumptions – We assume human perspectives are the only ones that matter. But what if we’re wrong? What if the sidekick, the animal companion, or the so-called “fool” sees the truth clearer than anyone else?
- They make stories more immersive – A well-written unlikely narrator doesn’t just tell a story; they reshape it. The way they describe the world, the language they use, the details they focus on—everything is infused with their unique way of seeing life.
And let’s be honest: sometimes, the best way to understand our own species is by letting a non-human observer weigh in. If a parrot can narrate the tangled web of human relationships, doesn’t that say something fascinating about us?
The Many Faces of the Unlikely Narrator
Not all unlikely narrators are created equal. Some are outsiders looking in, some are limited in ways that make their storytelling fascinating, and some just come from wildly unexpected places. Let’s look at a few types that have shaken up literature.
1. The Child Narrator – Innocence and Brutal Honesty
Children see the world differently. They lack the filters and biases that adults carry, which makes their observations either heartbreakingly pure or unintentionally hilarious.
Think of Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. She doesn’t fully understand the racial and social dynamics of her town, but her childlike honesty cuts through hypocrisy like a knife. Because she doesn’t realize she’s making profound statements, her words hit even harder.
Or Jack from Room by Emma Donoghue. He’s been raised in captivity, knowing nothing beyond the four walls of the room he shares with his mother. His innocent, playful voice turns a harrowing survival story into something strangely beautiful.
A child narrator allows readers to experience the world with fresh eyes, making the ordinary seem magical—and the unjust seem all the more outrageous.
2. The Non-Human Narrator – Seeing Humanity from the Outside
Sometimes, the best way to tell a human story is through something not human at all.
Take Solero’s parrot. By perching on the shoulders of multiple generations, the bird sees love, conflict, and ambition unfold from an entirely unique angle. It doesn’t get bogged down in human trivialities. It observes, remembers, and reveals truths that human characters might prefer to ignore.
Then there’s Richard Adams’ Watership Down, where rabbits are the main characters. Their struggles mirror real-world survival and war stories, but because they’re rabbits, we see it in a way we never could through human eyes.
And let’s not forget Edgar Sawtelle’s dog narrator in The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. The dog doesn’t understand everything humans do, but he understands emotions, loyalty, and fear. And sometimes, that’s more than enough.
3. The Outsider – Someone Who Just… Doesn’t Fit In
Ever felt like you’re watching life from the sidelines, trying to figure out how the rest of the world just knows how to behave? Then you already understand the outsider narrator.
Take Christopher Boone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. He’s on the autism spectrum, and his perspective is logical, precise, and emotionally detached in ways that make us question how we process the world.
Or Chief Bromden in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Everyone assumes he’s deaf and mute, so they speak freely around him—giving him insights no one else has. Through his perspective, the reader sees the cruel absurdities of the mental health system in ways a traditional narrator never could.
These narrators are powerful because they make us rethink normalcy. Their view of the world isn’t flawed—it’s just different. And often, it’s the rest of us who have been seeing things wrong.
How to Write an Unlikely Narrator That Works
Feeling inspired? Thinking of giving your next novel a narrator that’s outside the box? Here’s how to do it without making readers throw their books across the room.
1. Give Them a Distinct Voice
An unusual narrator needs an unusual way of speaking. A child might focus on details that seem unimportant to adults. An animal might rely more on sounds, smells, and instinct. A character who doesn’t understand human emotions might describe things in purely logical terms.
If your narrator sounds just like any other character, you’re missing an opportunity.
2. Let Their Perspective Shape the Story
It’s not just about who tells the story; it’s about how their viewpoint changes everything. A dog wouldn’t narrate a murder mystery the way a detective would. A child wouldn’t describe war the way a seasoned soldier would. Make sure the story feels different because of the narrator’s perspective.
3. Play with What They Know (And Don’t Know)
An unlikely narrator might not understand everything they see. A child might miss the deeper meaning of adult conversations. A bird might not grasp human emotions but notices repeated behaviors. These gaps create tension and invite the reader to put the pieces together.
Final Thoughts: Why We Need More Unlikely Narrators
The best stories don’t just entertain us—they change the way we see the world. And nothing does that better than a narrator who doesn’t quite belong in it.
Unlikely narrators remind us that truth isn’t just what’s on the surface. It’s hidden in the way a child describes their parents’ fights, the way a dog senses fear before its owner does, the way a parrot remembers everything, but understands nothing.
So, the next time you pick up a book—or sit down to write one—ask yourself: whose voice hasn’t been heard yet? Whose perspective might change everything?
Because sometimes, the best way to understand the human condition… is to listen to something that isn’t human at all.
For more brilliant takes on unexpected narrators, check out this article from The Guardian. Or, if you want a deep dive into how unconventional viewpoints shape literature, The Paris Review has a great discussion on it.
Now, go forth and embrace the unexpected. You never know who—or what—has the best story to tell.
