What strategies help identify free indirect speech in literature?
Free indirect speech, a literary technique that blends a character's thoughts and speech into the third-person narrative, can be elusive. To identify it in literature, you need to be attuned to subtle shifts in the narrative voice and the way characters' internal dialogues are presented. This technique allows authors to imbue their narratives with a sense of immediacy and intimacy, giving readers insight into characters' thoughts without direct quotation or attribution. Understanding free indirect speech enriches your reading experience and deepens your comprehension of character development and thematic nuances.