Purpose
The basic purpose of narrative is to entertain, to gain and hold a readers' interest. However narratives can also be written to teach or inform, to change attitudes / social opinions eg soap operas and television dramas that are used to raise topical issues. Narratives sequence people/characters in time and place but differ from recounts in that through the sequencing, the stories set up one or more problems, which must eventually find a way to be resolved.
Types of narrative
There are many types of narrative. They can be imaginary, factual or a combination of both. They may include fairy stories, mysteries, science fiction, romances, horror stories, adventure stories, fables, myths and legends, historical narratives, ballads, slice of life, personal experience.
Features
- Characters with defined personalities/identities.
- Dialogue often included - tense may change to the present or the future.
- Descriptive language to create images in the reader's mind and enhance the story.
Generic structures :
The example story of narrative text
EXERCISE NARRATIVE TEXT
A. Read the story and write the generic structure next to the text
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Why do hawks hunt chiks?
Once upon a time, a hawk fell in love with a hen. The hawk flew down from the sky and asked the hen, “Will you marry me?”
The hen loved the brave, strong hawk and wished to marry him. But she said, “I cannot fly as high as you can. If you give me time, I may learn to fly as high as you. Then we can fly together.”
The hawk agreed. Before he went away, he gave the hen a ring. “This is to show that you have promised to marry me,” said the hawk.
It so happend that the hen had already promised to marry a rooster. So, when the rooster saw the ring, he became very angry. “Throw that ring away at once!” shouted the rooster. The hen was so frightened at the rooster’s anger that she threw away the ring immediately.
When the hawk came a few months later, the hen told the truth. The hawk was so furious that he cursed the hen, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Now, you’ll always be scratching the earth, and I’ll always be flying above to catch your children,” said the hawk.
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B. In groups, answer these questions:
1. What is the social function of the text above?
2. Who was involved?
3. Did the hen face any problems to marry the hawk?
4. How did the hen solve the problem?
5. Does the story end in happy or sad ending?
6. Does the story happen in the past time or in the present time?
7. Mention the words are used to tell that the story happened in the past?
8. What are the words used to tell the order of events?
9. Are the verbs in the present or in the past?
10. Write several action verbs that you find in the text!
C. Now, take turn reading the story aloud. Then, in turn read it aloud for your friends!
