Narrative Text

Definition 

Narrative text is a text to entertain, to gain and hold a reader’s interest. It’s usually like a fable, myth, legend, folklore, etc. However narrative can be also written to teach or inform, to change attitudes/social opinion.

The Generic Structure :

a. Orientation : Sets the scene and introduces the participants.

b. Complication : A crisis arises.

c. Resolution : The crisis is resolved, for better or for worse.

d. Re-orientation : (optional)

The Typical Elements :

a. Setting : When and where the story occurs.

b. Characters : The most important people or characters in the story.

c. Initiating Event : An action or occurrence that establishes a problem and/or goal.

d. Conflict : The focal point around which the whole story is organized.

e. Events : One or more attempts by the main character(s) to achieve the goal or solve the problem.

f. Resolution : The outcome of the attempts to achieve the goal or solve the problem.

g. Theme : The main idea or moral of the story.

The Characteristics of Narrative Text :

a. Using the Simple Past Tense.

b. It’s started with adverb, such as long time ago, once upon a time, in a faraway land, etc.

c. Using the conjunctions, such as then, after, that, before, etc.

The example of narrative text :

THE RING 

Orientation

One day, A girl was sitting on a chair at the gas station she worked at. She looked up and saw her boyfriend walk in.

Complication

As he was looking at snacks, a man walked in and pointed a gun at her. He had been admiring her ring her boyfriend had given to her as a token of his love. When he asked her to give it to him, she said no. Her boyfriend looked up just in time to see her shot. He ran over to the killer and beat him over the head with a hammer that was for sale. Then he ran and called 911. When the ambulance came, he was sobbing uncontrollably near his girlfriend.

Resolution
The doctor came over and felt for her pulse. Then he stood up and said she was still alive. Later at the hospital, as he was sitting beside her, he asked"Why didn't you just give him the ring?" and then she softly spoke"Because when you gave it to me, you said it was part of your love for me and I knew if I gave him the ring, I would lose that love." The next day, she was pronounced dead.