Free indirect discourse
A hybrid representation of speech that blends character voice with narrative voice, using character perspective and vocabulary without quotation marks or speech tags.
Real World
Jane Austen's 'Emma' famously uses free indirect discourse so that Emma Woodhouse's misguided opinions blend with the narration, making readers temporarily share her errors before recognising her irony.
Exam Focus
When you spot free indirect discourse, explore the ambiguity — ask whether the attitude belongs to narrator or character, as this uncertainty is often the point.
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