Which factor can cause a narrator to be unreliable?

• A. Consistent factual reporting
• B. A fully omniscient perspective
• C. Bias, limited knowledge, or deception
• D. A neutral tone

Answer: (C)

Unreliable narration comes from the narrator’s own bias, limited knowledge, or deliberate deception. When a narrator is biased, they filter events through personal wants or prejudices, which can skew what they report. Limited knowledge means they can’t see or know everything, so they might miss or misinterpret crucial details. Deception directly hides or twists facts to mislead the reader. These factors break trust in what’s being told and push readers to question the truth behind the narration. In contrast, consistent factual reporting and a neutral tone signal reliability, and a fully omniscient perspective typically provides a broad, authoritative view of events, not an inherently unreliable one.