NARRATIVE TEXT

Definition of Narrative Text

Narrative Text is one of 13 types of English text (genre) born from narration as well as Recount Text,
Anecdote Text, Spoof Text. Then, the definition of narrative text is an imaginative story to entertain people

Perhaps you need to know that narrative text, in the writing and composition lecture is usually called
narration, which is one of type of text in a literary language. Usually, the narrative text contains good
fiction stories, non-fiction stories, animal stories (fable), folktales, fairy tales, myths, legends etc. In a
simple word everything about story is included in narrative text.

Theme

• Definition: Theme is perhaps the most important literary concept because it is the overarching idea that
the writer of the story wants to reader to understand. All other literary concepts are used to create theme.
The theme is the author’s commentary on a subject. For example, in Shakespeare’s Othello, one of the
major themes is how easily human perception can be manipulated when powerful emotions are at play.
To determine the theme, examine other literary elements of the story.

Plot

• Definition: Plot is the structure of the narrative as it moves through time. Most narratives (but not all)
follow this traditional plot structure. It consists of the exposition (introduction of setting and characters),
rising action (events that build conflict for the protagonist), climax (tension of conflict reaches highest,
most intense point), falling action (the events following the climax), and denouement (the resolution of
conflict).

Characters

• Definition: Characters are the people involved in the narrative. The process by which a writer creates a
character is called characterization. The main or central character, often considered the hero, is called the
protagonist. The main character who opposes the protagonist is the antagonist, sometimes considered
the villain. Literary analysis of characters often focuses on whether or not and to what extent a character
changes throughout the story.

Conflict

• Definition: Conflict refers to the issue or problem characters in a story are confronted by. The
narrative is structured around how the characters face the conflict. The four general types of conflicts are:
1) person vs. person (a couple going through a divorce); 2) person vs. self (protagonist wrestling with
depression); 3) person vs. nature (protagonist trying to survive a natural disaster); and 4) person vs.
society (protagonist fighting for civil rights). The interaction of character and conflict creates the central
effect of the story and is the main indicator of meaning.

Setting = the place and time of the story

Point of view

* First-person narrator: Tells the story from the perspective of one or several characters with the
word “I” or “we.” The readers, as if from their own eyes, can envision the characters actions.

* Third-person limited narrator: Tells the story from an outside perspective from the perspective of
one of the characters (usually the protagonist). The third-person limited narrator can relate events,
thoughts, actions, but is limited to that single character. For example, if the narration is from the point of
view of the protagonist, the narrator cannot relate events that are happening across town from where
the protagonist is, nor can they relate the interior thoughts of any other character. Third person limited
narration uses the pronouns “he,” “she,” or “they.”

* Third-person omniscient narrator: Also tells the story from an outside perspective but this
narrator is not limited to actions and thoughts of one character. This narrator knows all of the in
formation of the story and can relate the events of the story, the actions and speech of each as well as
the interior thoughts of any character. There are no limits for this narrator.

Style

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Generic Structure of Narrative Text

# Orientation : It is about the opening paragraph where the characters of the story are introduced.

# Complication : Where the problems in the story developed.

# Resolution : Where the problems in the story is solved.

# Coda / reorientation (optional) – lesson from the story

Purpose of Narrative text

The Purpose of Narrative Text is to amuse or to entertain the reader with a story.

Language Feature of Narrative Text

– Past tense (killed, drunk, etc)

– Adverb of time (Once upon a time, one day, etc)

– Time conjunction (when, then, suddenly, etc)

– Specific character. The character of the story is specific, not general. (Cinderella, Snow White, Alibaba,
etc)

– Action verbs. A verb that shows an action. (killed, dug, walked, etc)

– Direct speech. It is to make the story lively. (Snow White said, ”My name is Snow White”). The direct
speech uses present tense.

Kinds of Narrative Text

Fable, folktales, fairy tales, myth, legend

Example of Narrative Text

Example of Narrative Text about Animal

True Friends

Once upon a time, there were two close friends who were walking through the forest together. They knew
that anything dangerous can happen any time in the forest. So they promised each other that they would
always be together in any case of danger.

Suddenly, they saw a large bear getting closer toward them. One of them climbed a nearby tree at once.
But unfortunately the other one did not know how to climb up the tree. So being led by his common
sense, he lay down on the ground breathless and pretended to be a dead man.

The bear came near the one who was lying on the ground. It smelt in his ears, and slowly left the place
because the bears do not want to touch the dead creatures. After that, the friend on the tree came down
and asked his friend that was on the ground, “Friend, what did the bear whisper into your ears?” The
other friend replied, “Just now the bear advised me not to believe a false friend.”

Moral of the Story- A true friend in need is a friend indeed.

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