Voice in literature is the distinctive style, personality, and perspective of a writer or narrator. It is what makes a text recognisable as belonging to a particular author or character, and it is shaped by diction, syntax, tone, and rhythm.

Voice can be first-person, second-person, or third-person, and it can be reliable or unreliable. In poetry, voice often refers to the speaker, who may differ from the poet. A strong voice creates intimacy and immediacy, drawing the reader into the text.

Key points

• Distinctive style and personality
• Shaped by diction and syntax
• Can be first-, second-, or third-person
• Includes narrator reliability