: Is it strange to describe the narrator's facial expressions in a first-person narrative? Examples: “Really?” I said, widening my eyes. "What?" My eyes lifted and I raised my brows

Vote Up Vote Down

From my PoV, depends on the style of writing, example (sorry if it doesn't sound as great as in my mind, not english native):

The street lights were flickering. From my seat in Builders Street bus
stop i was able to see a shadow move between two piles of boxes. I
raised an eyebrow and shouted "Hey, is someone there?", but i got no
response. The lights flickered again, and i felt a cold chill on my
spine. There was another shadow besides mine...

(0)

Vote Up Vote Down

As @kitzfox says, there are times when you would know what your face must look like, and it would be reasonable for a narrator to say so.

I stared wide-eyed.

Sometimes you would reasonably guess.

"Bob is the smartest man here", my girlfriend announced to the room.
I could feel myself reddening with embarrassment.

But other times it would be distinctly odd.
For example:

I had a tired look on my face.

Umm, probably not. You might say "I was tired", but you are unlikely to describe yourself as looking tired.
If it's somehow important to describe how a first-person narrator looks, to make it sound natural you could either have someone else tell him how he looks, or provide some way that he sees himself.

I didn't realize how tired I must be until Sally said, "Wow, you look exhausted."
"Does it really show?" I asked.

Or

As I walked passed the mirror, I glanced at it and saw my own reflection. Wow, I looked tired!

(0)

Vote Up Vote Down

Although the narrator can't see his own face, he'd still feel his face moving, so I don't think that's the reason it feels strange. It sounds strange to me because the actions sound intentional. Facial expressions are generally involuntary. I don't raise my eyebrows in surprise -- they rather do it of their own accord. Your writing could reflect this:

"Really?" I gasped, eyes wide.
"What?" My eyebrows flew up in amazement.

Your second examples also make sense, because we have access to the narrator's emotional state in first person POV.

"Really?" I was shocked.
"What?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

It depends on what kind of effect you want.

(0)