Free Indirect Speech
In short: Free indirect speech renders a character's thoughts or feelings in the third person and the narrative tense – without „she thought“. Narratorial voice and character view merge.
How free indirect speech works
Closeness without the „I“: It draws readers into the character's head without leaving the third person – a middle path between distance and interiority.
No quotation marks: Free indirect speech uses no quotation marks and no „he thought“ – the thought flows into the narrative text.
Related terms: Interior Monologue · Point of View (POV) · First-Person Narrator
Frequently asked questions
What is free indirect speech?
The rendering of a character's thoughts in the third person and narrative tense, merged with the narrator's voice.
How does it differ from interior monologue?
Interior monologue is usually first person and present tense; free indirect speech stays in third person and the narrative tense.