What is the difference inbetween third person omniscient and third person limited

The third person omniscient knows and writes about everyone's thoughts. The third person limited only writes about the thoughts of one character.

To understand the difference between third person omniscient and third person limited point of view, we need to look at how the narration is presented in each.

In third person omniscient, the narrator is like an all-knowing observer who has access to the thoughts and feelings of all the characters in a story. The narrator has the ability to see into the minds of multiple characters, providing insight into their motivations, emotions, and perspectives. This allows the narrative to give a broad and comprehensive view of the story and its characters. Think of the narrator as a storyteller who can delve into the thoughts of any character at any time.

In contrast, third person limited focuses on the thoughts and feelings of a single character, often the protagonist. The narrator only reveals what that one character is thinking and feeling, effectively limiting the reader's insight to the perspective of that character. This creates a more intimate understanding of the protagonist's experiences, thoughts, and motivations. The reader sees the world through the eyes of this character, experiencing events as they do.

To identify whether a story is written in third person omniscient or third person limited, pay attention to the narrative voice and the level of access to characters' thoughts and perspectives. If the narrator reveals the thoughts and emotions of various characters, it is likely third person omniscient. If the narration closely follows the thoughts of one specific character, it is probably third person limited.

In summary, third person omniscient allows access to the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters, while third person limited focuses on the thoughts and feelings of one character.