The Elements of Narrative

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The Elements of Narrative

• ENG1D1
• MacPherson

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What is Narration?

• Narration is storytelling (literary, verbal)
• Can be either fictional (based on imagination) or
  non-fictional (based on facts)

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Examples of Narration

• Short stories
• Legends
• Myths
• Oral storytelling

• Ballads
• Novels
• Novellas
• Operettas
• Historical accounts

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Why is narrative important?

• It reflects human experience
• It informs
• It entertains
• It depicts human nature
• It is a means of passing stories and culture
  down through generations

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Key Features of Narration

• Developed from an event, or series of events
• Usually involves a character in conflict
• Character, setting, conflict, and plot are chosen
  to develop the theme of the narrative
• The beginning establishes character, setting
  and mood
• The middle character(s) deal with conflict
• The end explains how the conflict is resolved

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Elements Plot

• The plan or pattern of the story

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Elements -- Setting

• when and where the story takes place
• Includes both the time of day and time of year as
  well as the historical time period

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Elements -- Climax

• The main problem, or highest point of interest in
  the story

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Elements -- Crisis

• The series of events which help develop a
  character
• Also known as the Rising Action

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Elements -- Characterization

• Direct Characterization
• The authors explanatory comments tells the
  reader how to think
• Indirect Characterization
• The author provides information from which the
  reader makes inferences or conclusions

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Elements Protagonist Antagonist

• Protagonist
• The main character around whom the readers
  interest revolves
• Not necessarily good
• Antagonist
• An important opponent trying to stop or interfere
  with the protagonist
• Not necessarily bad

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Elements -- Conflict

• The struggle that grows between two opposing
  forces in a narrative
• A narrative may have multiple conflicts

• Examples of Conflicts
• Individual vs. Individual
• Individual vs. Nature
• Individual vs. Self
• Individual vs. Society

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Elements Flashback and Foreshadowing

• These are devices used to develop and advance the
  narrative
• Flashback
• The writer presents incidents that occurred
  before the opening episode of the story
• Used to develop context and background
• Foreshadowing
• Hints of something that will happen later in the
  story
• Used to develop suspense and anticipation

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Elements -- Theme

• The meaning or message of the story

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Elements -- Tone

• The feelings a piece of literature arouses in the
  reader

• Happy
• Sad
• Depressed
• Hostile
• Optimistic
• hopeful,
• Pessimistic
• Anger
• peace

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Elements -- Symbol

• An object or image that is used to represent
  something (usually an abstract concept or theme)

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Elements Point of View

• The perspective from which a story is narrated
  (told)
• First Person Major
• The main character tells the story only from his
  /her viewpoint
• Third Person Omniscient
• The narrator is omniscient (all knowing) but is
  not in the action
• Sees all action and knows the thoughts of all
  characters

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Elements -- Style

• The writers use of language that gives insights
  into the story
• Includes use of literary devices, diction,
  punctuation, etc

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Elements -- Suspense

• A feeling of uncertainty about the outcome
• Created through setting, use of foreshadowing,
  development of mood and atmosphere through style,
  character conflict etc.

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Elements Inciting Incident

• The events in the story which begin the action
• May even take place before the actual narrative
  begins

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Elements Character Crisis

• Moments in a story which challenge characters and
  lead to character development

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Elements --Denouement

• The unraveling of the plot near the conclusion of
  a story
• Sometimes referred to as the resolution

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Genre

• This is not an element of narrative, but rather a
  type of narrative
• Refers to a kind or type of literature

• Mystery
• Horror
• Science fiction
• Romance
• Action /Adventure
• Fantasy
• Gothic
• Realism