Audience surrogate

In the study of literature, an audience surrogate is a character who expresses the questions and confusion of the reader. It is a device frequently used in detective fiction and science fiction.

In detective fiction, the audience surrogate is usually a minor character that asks a central character how he or she accomplished certain deeds, for the purpose of inciting that character to explain (for the curious audience) his or her methods.

In science fiction, the audience surrogate frequently takes the form of a child or other uninformed person, asking a relatively educated person to explain what amounts to the backstory.

Dr. Watson in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes may be considered an audience surrogate as would each of the Doctor's many companions.

A revealing line in mystery or science fiction stories, is that after the author explains the backstory, the audience surrogate will frequently utter lines to the effect of: "Well, when you put it that way, even I can understand!"

Compare: author surrogate