Narrative Text

 

Definition of Narrative Text

Narrative Text is one of 13 types of English text (genre) born from the 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 the 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 stories of fiction, non-fiction stories, animal stories (fable), folktales, fairy tales, myths, legends etc. In a simple word everything about the story is included in narrative text.

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

Fox and Cat

One day a cat and a fox were having a conversation. The fox, who was a conceited creature, boasted how clever she was. ‘Why, I know at least a hundred tricks to get away from our mutual enemies, the dogs,’ she said.

‘I know only one trick to get away from dogs,’ said the cat. ‘You should teach me some of yours!’
‘Well, maybe someday, when I have the time, I may teach you a few of the simpler ones,’ replied the fox airily.

Just then they heard the barking of a pack of dogs in the distance. The barking grew louder and louder – the dogs were coming in their direction! At once the cat ran to the nearest tree and climbed into its branches, well out of reach of any dog. ‘This is the trick I told you about, the only one I know,’ said the cat. ‘Which one of your hundred tricks are you going to use?’

The fox sat silently under the tree, wondering which trick she should use. Before she could make up her mind, the dogs arrived. They fell upon the fox and tore her to pieces.

Moral : A single plan that works is better than a hundred doubtful plans.