Journal of Literary Criticism

Journal of Literary Criticism

Applying the Topography of the First-Person Singular Role to Identify Subtypes of Technical We-Narratives

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/jlc.2025.479138.1675
Abstract
The first-person perspective is not limited to the first-person singular form; the first-person plural is another variant of this narrative point of view. To enhance realism in this perspective, the author sometimes depicts the narrator as singular in certain parts of the story. Such narratives can be termed “technical we-narratives.” This study aims to identify the subcategories within the broader framework of technical we-narratives, emphasizing the importance of offering a more precise classification of first-person plural perspectives. The central question this research seeks to address is: What is the most effective criterion for categorizing technical we-narratives? The hypothesis suggests that the role of the first-person singular or “I” within the narrative can serve as an appropriate marker for distinguishing between different subtypes. Accordingly, this research examines selected works from contemporary Iranian fiction and, using a descriptive-analytical approach, explores the influence of the first-person singular in relation to the group. By focusing on three key factors—the relationship between “I” and other group members, the level of awareness of “I,” and the significance of the individual role of “I” within the collective—this study elucidates the diverse forms of technical we-narratives.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 May 2025

  • Receive Date 17 September 2024
  • Revise Date 21 January 2025
  • Accept Date 25 January 2025