Narrative Text

Definition of Narrative

Narrative is a text focusing specific participants.The purpose of narrative text is to amuse or entertain the reader with actual or imaginary experiences in different ways.Narrative always deal with some problems which lead to the climax and turn into a solution to the problem.

Generic Structure of Narrative

A narrative text consists of the following structure:
1. Orientation: Introducing the participants and informing the time and the place
2. Complication: Describing the rising crises which the participants have to do with
3. Resolution: Showing the way of participant to solve the crises, better or worse

Language Features of Narrative

· Using processes verbs
· Using temporal conjunction
· Using Simple Past Tense

The kind of narrative text :

- Myth,a traditional story which may describe the origins of the word,a lace, and or of people.It is considered a true sacred story in the remote post.

-Legend,a true story primarily about human heroes in the recent past and may feature some religious reference.

-Folktale,a story which is regarded as fiction.It can be a non-scared fictional story that occurs "once upon a time" and features human and non-human characters.

-Folklore,a collection of fictional tales about people and or animals,It include myths and tales.

Examples of narrative text :

1.

Cinderella

Once upon a time there was a girl called Cinderella. She lived with her stepsisters. They were very bossy. They made Cinderella do all the housework.
One day an invitation to the ball came to the family. Her stepsisters would not let her go. Cinderella was sad because she wanted to go to the ball too. Her stepsisters went to the ball without her.
Fortunately, the fairy Godmother came and helped her to get to the ball. At the ball, Cinderella dance with the prince. The prince fell in love with her then married her. They lived happily ever after.

Analyzing the Text

Generic Structure Analysis :
Orientation; introducing participants, Cinderella and her stepsisters. They lived together once time
Complication; describing the conflict among the participants. Cinderella wanted to come to the ball but her stepsisters did not let her go
Resolution; stating a problem solving, a happy ending. A fairy Godmother helped her to come to the ball

Language Feature Analysis :
Process verb; did, helped, fell in love, lived
Simple past tense pattern; there was a girl, she lived, an invitation came to the ball, etc

2.

The Legend of Toba Lake

Once upon time, there was a handsome man. His name was Batara Guru Sahala. He liked fishing. One day, he caught a fish. He was surprised to find out that the fish could talk. The fish begged him to set it free.
Batara Guru could not bear it. He made the fish free. As soon as it was free, the fish changed into a very beautiful woman. She attracted Batara Guru so much. He felt in love with that fish-woman. The woman wanted to marry with him and said that Batara Guru had to keep the secret which she had been a fish. Batara Guru aggreed and promised that he would never tell anybody about it.
They were married happily. They had two daughters. One day Batara Guru got very angry with his daughter. He could not control his mad. He shouted angrily and got the word of fish to his daugters. The daughters were crying. They found their mother and talked her about it.
The mother was very annoyed. Batara Guru broke his promise. The mother was shouting angrily. Then the earth began to shake. Volcanoes started to erupt. The earth formed a very big hole. People believed that the big hole became a lake. Then this lake is known as Toba lake.

Note on Narrative Generic Structure

ORIENTATION: The first paragraph presents information about the participant of the story. In literary term, the participant is called as character. Orientation commonly introduces information about WHO, WHERE and WHEN.
COMPLICATION: Paragraph two explores the niche of the story. That is conflict among the characters of the story. This conflict will involve physical and psychological conflict. The conflict is actually the heart of any narrative text. It will drive the participant to make effort in solving the crisis.
RESOLUTION: The last paragraph closes the story with solving the crisis. However it can be better or worse.