If the narrator is a character in the story how does the author tell the reader that characters name?

Answer 1

Very often the narrator is the main character, and their name will be present in the book blurb, on the back cover or inside the jacket. If not, there are many ways in which it can be revealed:

1. The narrator may speak directly to the reader and introduce himself. This happens in the very first sentence of 'Moby Dick'. "Call me Ishmael."
2. The narrator may speak directly to other characters in the story. This happens in "The Maltese Falcon'. "The name's Spade, Sam Spade."
3. Other characters in the story may talk to or about the narrator. This happens in 'Speak to me no more of Venice.' "I was just settling into the deck chair like old men do when I heard a cry. "Hey Dobson, Charles Dobson, you old coot."
4. The narrator may recount an instance where other characters are talking and a list of names comes up. It is left to the reader to figure out the narrator's name by elimination. This happens in 'The handmaid's Tale'.
5. The narrator's name may be found upon a document or some other information medium. This happens in 'Crisscross'. "Stedman grabbed his hand and the page swooped to the floor where we could all see it. It was signed Veljenko."
6. The narrator's name may be hidden in a word jumble or letter search in the actual text of the book. This happens in 'One One Seven Nine.'

Answer 2

The narrator should refer to the characters either by name or by descriptive title. For example, if your character is John Doe, a carpenter from Hawaii who is Japanese, you could call him John, John Doe, Mr. Doe, the carpenter, the Hawaiian, or the Japanese man.