Narrative Text

Narrative Text

1. Purpose:

   • The essential purpose of narrative is to tell a story, but the detailed purpose may vary according to genre.

2. Generic structure

   • an opening that establishes setting and introduces characters;
   • a complication and resulting events;
   • a resolution/ending.

3. Typical elements

   • Setting
     • when and where the story occurs.
   • Characters
     • the most important people or characters in the story.
   • Initiating event
     • an action or occurrence that establishes a problem and/or goal.
   • Conflict/goal
     • the focal point around which the whole story is organized.
   • Events
     • one or more attempts by the main character(s) to achieve the goal or solve the problem.
   • Resolution
     • the outcome of the attempts to achieve the goal

4. Types of text

   • Text Types
   • Adventure
     • Typically a recount or retelling of a series of exciting events leading to a high impact resolution.
     • The most common structure is a chronological narrative.
   • Mystery
     • Structure is often chronological, even in a longer narrative, but complex structural techniques are sometimes used for effect.
     • To intrigue and entertain.
   • Myths
     • To provide a fictional explanation for natural phenomena.
     • Can pass on cultural, religious or spiritual beliefs and traditions.
   • Legends
     • To provide information about the way particular people lived, and what they believed.
     • Structure is usually chronological, with one episode told after another
   • Science Fiction
     • To entertain and, sometimes, to speculate about the future.
     • Can use any of the varied structures typical of narrative.
   • Fantasy
     • To entertain and to fuel the imagination.
     • May simply be a basic chronological narrative set in a fantasy world but some fantasy narratives extend the ‘fantastic’ element to the structure as well.
   • Historical fiction
     • To entertain and, sometimes, to inform.
     • Is about something that has already happened in the past so a series of events is usually the underlying structure.
   • Fables
     • The narrative drives towards the closing moral statement
     • They are often very short with few characters
   • They use it as a tool to help them organize their ideas and to explore new ideas and experiences