| abstract | - The author has a fascinating character in mind - it is unquestionably his story - but for one reason or another, getting into their head just wouldn't pan out for the reader. Normally this is because: 1.
* The character is dead at the end of the story. 2.
* The author wants to keep the reader wondering what the character is thinking, or the character has a secret the author wants to keep from the audience. 3.
* The character doesn't understand the events of the story, and the author wants to provide a clear perspective on them. 4.
* The character didn't personally change much. In fact, the events of the story were more significant for the character as an observer than a participant. 5.
* The character's heroic abilities are such that it's hard to show them from his point of view without his coming across as conceited instead of cool. 6.
* More rarely, it's not clear what the character is, exactly. Enter the First-Person Peripheral Narrator, a character who is not the main character or protagonist, but is chosen as the Narrator because he has an excellent view of the action surrounding the real focal characters. See also The Watson, whose job it is to merely set up exposition, and POV Boy, Poster Girl, where the boy often resembles this. Compare and contrast with Designated Protagonist Syndrome. When a Biopic is made in this fashion, it is called a Sidelong Glance Biopic. Examples of First-Person Peripheral Narrator include:
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