The The Elements of Elements of NarrativeNarrativeENG1D1ENG1D1
MacPhersonMacPherson
What is What is “Narration”?“Narration”?
Narration is storytelling Narration is storytelling (literary, verbal)(literary, verbal)
Can be either fictional (based on Can be either fictional (based on imagination) or non-fictional imagination) or non-fictional (based on facts)(based on facts)
Examples of Examples of NarrationNarration
Short Short storiesstories
LegendsLegendsMythsMythsOral Oral
storytellingstorytelling
BalladsBallads NovelsNovels NovellasNovellas OperettasOperettas Historical Historical
accountsaccounts
Why is narrative Why is narrative important?important?
It reflects human experienceIt reflects human experience It informsIt informs It entertainsIt entertains It depicts human natureIt depicts human nature It is a means of passing stories It is a means of passing stories
and culture down through and culture down through generationsgenerations
Key Features of Key Features of NarrationNarration
Developed from an event, or series of eventsDeveloped from an event, or series of events Usually involves a character in conflictUsually involves a character in conflict CharacterCharacter, , settingsetting, , conflictconflict, and , and plotplot are are
chosen to develop the chosen to develop the themetheme of the narrative of the narrative The beginningThe beginning – establishes character, – establishes character,
setting and moodsetting and mood The middleThe middle – character(s) deal with conflict – character(s) deal with conflict The endThe end – explains how the conflict is – explains how the conflict is
resolvedresolved
Elements: PlotElements: Plot
The plan or pattern of the storyThe plan or pattern of the story
Elements -- SettingElements -- Setting
““when” and “where” the story when” and “where” the story takes placetakes place
Includes both the time of day Includes both the time of day and time of year as well as the and time of year as well as the historical time periodhistorical time period
Elements -- ClimaxElements -- Climax
The main problem, or highest The main problem, or highest point of interest in the storypoint of interest in the story
Elements -- CrisisElements -- Crisis
The series of events which help The series of events which help develop a characterdevelop a character
Also known as the “Rising Also known as the “Rising Action” Action”
Elements -- Elements -- CharacterizationCharacterization
Direct CharacterizationDirect Characterization The author’s explanatory comments The author’s explanatory comments
tells the reader how to thinktells the reader how to think
Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization The author provides information from The author provides information from
which the reader makes inferences or which the reader makes inferences or conclusionsconclusions
Elements Elements – Protagonist & Antagonist– Protagonist & Antagonist
ProtagonistProtagonist The main character around whom the The main character around whom the
reader’s interest revolvesreader’s interest revolves Not necessarily “good”Not necessarily “good”
AntagonistAntagonist An important opponent trying to stop or An important opponent trying to stop or
interfere with the protagonistinterfere with the protagonist Not necessarily “bad”Not necessarily “bad”
Elements -- ConflictElements -- Conflict
The struggle that The struggle that grows between two grows between two opposing forces in opposing forces in a narrativea narrative
A narrative may A narrative may have multiple have multiple conflictsconflicts
Examples of Examples of ConflictsConflicts Individual vs. Individual vs.
IndividualIndividual
Individual vs. NatureIndividual vs. Nature
Individual vs. SelfIndividual vs. Self
Individual vs. SocietyIndividual vs. Society
Elements Elements – Flashback and – Flashback and ForeshadowingForeshadowing
These are devices used to develop and These are devices used to develop and advance the narrativeadvance the narrative
FlashbackFlashback The writer presents incidents that occurred The writer presents incidents that occurred
before the opening episode of the storybefore the opening episode of the story Used to develop context and backgroundUsed to develop context and background
ForeshadowingForeshadowing Hints of something that will happen later in Hints of something that will happen later in
the storythe story Used to develop suspense and anticipationUsed to develop suspense and anticipation
Elements -- ThemeElements -- Theme
The meaning or message of the storyThe meaning or message of the story
Elements -- ToneElements -- Tone
The feelings a The feelings a piece of literature piece of literature arouses in the arouses in the readerreader
HappyHappy SadSad DepressedDepressed HostileHostile OptimisticOptimistic hopeful,hopeful, PessimisticPessimistic AngerAnger peacepeace
Elements -- SymbolElements -- Symbol
An object or image that is used to An object or image that is used to represent something (usually an represent something (usually an abstract concept or theme)abstract concept or theme)
Elements – Point of ViewElements – Point of View
The perspective from which a story is The perspective from which a story is narrated (told)narrated (told)
First Person MajorFirst Person Major The main character tells the story only from his The main character tells the story only from his
/her viewpoint/her viewpoint Third Person OmniscientThird Person Omniscient
The narrator is omniscient (all knowing) but is not The narrator is omniscient (all knowing) but is not in the actionin the action
Sees all action and knows the thoughts of all Sees all action and knows the thoughts of all characterscharacters
Elements -- StyleElements -- Style
The writer’s use of language that The writer’s use of language that gives insights into the storygives insights into the story Includes use of literary devices, diction, Includes use of literary devices, diction,
punctuation, etc…punctuation, etc…
Elements -- SuspenseElements -- Suspense
A feeling of uncertainty about the A feeling of uncertainty about the outcomeoutcome
Created through setting, use of Created through setting, use of foreshadowing, development of foreshadowing, development of mood and atmosphere through style, mood and atmosphere through style, character conflict etc….character conflict etc….
Elements –Inciting Elements –Inciting IncidentIncident
The events in the story which begin The events in the story which begin the actionthe action
May even take place before the May even take place before the actual narrative beginsactual narrative begins
Elements – Character Elements – Character CrisisCrisis
Moments in a story which challenge Moments in a story which challenge characters and lead to character characters and lead to character developmentdevelopment
Elements --DenouementElements --Denouement
The unraveling of the plot near the The unraveling of the plot near the conclusion of a storyconclusion of a story
Sometimes referred to as the Sometimes referred to as the “resolution”“resolution”
GenreGenre
This is not an This is not an element of element of narrative, but narrative, but rather a “type” of rather a “type” of narrativenarrative
Refers to a kind or Refers to a kind or type of literature type of literature
MysteryMystery HorrorHorror Science fictionScience fiction RomanceRomance Action /AdventureAction /Adventure FantasyFantasy GothicGothic RealismRealism
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