Point of View

William Alexander tells his novel “Goblin Secrets” in the third-person limited-omniscient perspective revolving around the character of Rownie. The novel revolves around Rownie since he serves as the main character, while the third-person allows the author to include important contextual information more easily to the reader as Rownie seeks to find his brother, Rowan. For example, the narrator is able to explain to the reader what happened to Rownie when he put on the fox mask in Act II, Scene IV, even though Rownie himself cannot explain it. Likewise, the limited-omniscient aspect of the novel in which the reader only learns certain things as Rownie learns them adds a sense of suspense and mystery to the novel. For example, it is not until near the end of the novel that Rowan’s fate truly becomes known, or whether the River floods can be stopped.

Language and Meaning