NARRATIVE TEXTS

What is a narrative text?

Narrative text encompasses both fiction and non-fiction, and it includes any form of writing
that communicates a series of events. It can be used to entertain, inform or persuade a reader to either
accept or reject a premise or idea.
Narrative text can help a reader to develop a better sense of analysis and a greater
understanding of human relationships. Novels, memoirs and biographies often illustrate universal
themes and complex issues that lead to an increased awareness of how individuals, groups and cultures
interact. (www.reference.com/world-view/examples-narrative-text-58db813f350bd9da)

A. SOCIAL FUNCTION/ PURPOSE:

a. to amuse or entertain the readers with actual or imaginary experiences in different ways.
b. to convey the messages or moral values.
• Narratives always deal with some problems which lead to the climax and then turn into a
solution to the problem.
Examples of Narratives:
- Fabel
- Myths
- Legends
- Short stories
- Novels
- Cartoon strips
- Picture books.

B. TEXT ORGANIZATION OF NARRATIVE:

a. Orientation (beginning) :
a setting, characters.
b. Complication (middle) :
a problem arises followed by other problems.
c. Resolution (ending) :
solution to the problem.
d. Reorientation (optional) :
message of the story

C. LANGUAGE FEATURES
• Tense : simple past(VERB 2)
• Direct Speech(“…”)
• Cohesion devices( Firstly, next, later, finally, at last, luckily. etc.)
• Adverbial of manners(safely, happily, etc.)
Exercise :
Analyze the following short story based on it’s structure. Do it on your work book.

One hot day, an ant was searching for some water. After walking around for some time, she came to a
spring. To reach the spring, she had to climb up a blade of grass. While making her way up, she slipped
and fell into the water.
She could have drowned if a dove up a nearby tree had not seen her. Seeing that the ant was in trouble,
the dove quickly plucked off a leaf and dropped it into the water near the struggling ant. The ant moved
towards the leaf and climbed up there. Soon it carried her safely to dry ground. Just at that time, a
hunter nearby was throwing out his net towards the dove, hoping to trap it.
Guessing what he was about to do, the ant quickly bit him on the heel. Feeling the pain, the
hunter dropped his net. The dove was quick to fly away to safety.

NO. TEXT STRUCTURE/ EVIDENT

ORGANIZATION
1. Orientation
2. …
3. …
4. …