Types of unreliable narrators in English-language literature

Abstract

The aim of the research is to identify the main types of unreliable narrators based on works written in English over the past 25 years for adults and adolescents. The paper analyses the theoretical and practical works devoted to studying the device of an unreliable narrator, gives its definitions and types. Based on this information, as well as the analysis of English-language literary works, the author identifies the types of unreliable narrators. The reasons for their unreliability may be the following: young age, mental problems, traumatic experience and unnatural origin. The scientific originality of the research lies in the fact that the analysis of the selected works with unusual protagonists makes it possible to create a typology of unreliable narrators new to literary studies. It is important to note that almost all of the narrators are characterised by unintentional distortion or concealment of information. In addition, some of the works selected for analysis have not been studied or remain little studied. The research results in a list of the main types of unreliable narrators, which is based on the reasons for their unreliability. Moreover, the author comments on the reasons for using the device of unreliable narrator and its functions in individual works.