Narrative Text: Characteristics and Structure

He narrative text it is a type of text that tells a story to some recipients through a medium; that is, it becomes signs; These signs (words, images) are produced by an agent. The narrative text and the expository text constitute the two great classes of textual structures.

In this sense, it can be said that a text is any passage, spoken or written, of any length, that forms a unified whole. One of the fundamental differences between narrative and expository texts is their purpose: the former tell a story, while the latter inform, explain or persuade.

On the other hand, a narrative text can be real or fictional (stories, novels, myths, fables, legends). Instead, an expository text speaks of real events (textbooks, articles in the press or magazines, catalogs). However, some texts - such as biographies, autobiographies and historical novels - can combine qualities of both types of text.

characteristics

The narrative text includes any type of text that relates a series of events chronologically. This includes fiction (novels, short stories) and nonfiction (memoirs, biographies).

Both forms tell stories that use imaginative language and express emotion, often through the use of images, metaphors and symbols.

In general, the narrative form is unique, because the authors relate the ideas they want to express about how people behave and what they believe.

These ideas or themes are generally related to universal truths and establish connections with the reader's experiences.

Purpose

The purpose of a narrative text is to entertain through storytelling. Details, such as exotic environments, intricate patterns, and finely drawn characters can increase the appeal of the story.

In the same way, narratives can communicate ideas about the meaning of life, families, morals, values ​​and spirituality. In fact, many narrative texts have influenced social conventions.

Especially, memoir writers and novels often tell complex stories that examine ideas, events, and universal problems.

Subtypes

Often, the narrative text is classified by subtypes or genres. Some common narrative genres include detective fiction, historical narratives, memoirs, science fiction, fables and myths.

Each genre contains its own narrative literary figures, plot types and characters.

Structure

Narratives commonly have a five-part structure: exposure, ascending action, climax, descending action and outcome.

More complex narratives may employ substructures, digressions, retrospectives ( flashbacks ), background story and multiple perspectives.

Style

The style of a narrative is a choice made by the author based in part on the genre, purpose and structure of the text.

For example, a story can have an ingenious, fast and ironic style. A written memory to educate readers and communicate ideas about the meaning of a historical event can have a reflective, tragic and dense style.

Characters

Every narrative text contains beings (person, animal or object) that participate in the story. Depending on the degree of their participation in the story, they are classified as protagonists, secondary, incidental or environmental.

Protagonists

They are main characters of the story.

Secondary

They do not have an outstanding participation, but they support the actions of the main characters.

Incidental

They have sporadic participation, but they imply a resounding change in history.

Environmental

They are part of the environment.

Also, the characters can be classified according to their psychological depth. So these can be round or flat.

- Round, when they are complex and develop, sometimes enough to surprise the recipient.

- Planes, when they are two-dimensional characters, relatively simple and do not change throughout history.

Time and place

Time consists of the temporal duration of the narrative. This can be carried out in a few hours, days, months or years. The amplitude must also be considered: temporary jumps that occur in the story.

On the other hand, the place is the physical space where the action takes place. In some cases, this element is fundamental for the development of events; in others it does not matter much.

Storyteller

The narrator is the person who narrates the text, and from whose perspective a story is told. Depending on that perspective, it is classified into:

First person

This character may be talking about himself, or sharing events that he or she is experiencing. The first person can be recognized by the use of"I"or"we".

Third person

It tells the facts from the perspective of a witness. In these cases, the narrator relates all the action of his work using the pronouns"he"or"she".

Omniscient

He does not participate in the story, but he knows both the actions and the thoughts of all the characters.

Structure

In general, a narrative sequence follows a progression where five moments are distinguished: exposure, ascending action, climax, descending action and outcome. These moments summarize the plot of the story.

The plot is a series of events presented in a sequence defined by causality and temporality, arranged and united in a unified and non-random way.

However, it must be taken into account that there are ways in which an author can organize (or disarm) the sequences and threads of a story.

Exhibition or presentation

In the exhibition, the key elements of the story are introduced, such as the time and place of the story, the main characters and their motivations.

Likewise, the central conflict is presented. A conflict is the element that drives the narrative, and is defined as the struggle between opposing forces: two characters, a character and nature, or even an internal struggle.

Upward action

In the ascending action the conflict begins to develop through a series of relevant incidents that create suspense, interest and tension in a narrative. This includes decisions and circumstances of the characters.

Climax

The climax is the inflection point of the narrative, where the conflict reaches its most intense point. It implies some fundamental event that forces the protagonist of the story to face and resolve the crisis.

Descending action

The events of the descending action are triggered by the action that took place at the climax of the story. At this point all the loose ends of the plot are tied.

Outcome

In the outcome the conflict is resolved in some way, and the events of the story reach a closing point.

References

1. Bal. M. (2009). Narratology: Introduction to the Theory of Narrative. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
2. Guzzetti, B. (Editor). (2002). Literacy in America, an encyclopedia of History, Theory and Practice. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.
3. Phillips, C. (2017, April 17). Characteristics of Narrative Text. Taken from penandthepad.com.
4. Sejnost, R. L. and Thiese S. M. (s / f). Reading (and Scaffolding) Narrative Texts. Taken from ldonline.org.
5. Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2018, January 17). Flat and round characters. Taken from britannica.com.
6. Rodríguez Guzmán, J. P. (2005). Graphic grammar to the juampedrino mode. Barcelona: Carena Editions.
7. Martínez Garnelo, A. (2010). Literature I. Mexico: Cengage Learning Editors.
8. Utell, J. (2015). Engagements with Narrative. Oxon: Routledge.