NARRATIVE TEXT

Narrative text is used to entertain and to a the readers or listeners. The narrative texts use the simple past tense.

~ Purpose:
The basic purpose of narrative is to entertain 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 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.
~ Structure:
1. Orientation: (introduction) in which the characters, setting and time of
the story are established. Usually answers who? when? where?
2. Complication or problem: The complication usually involves the main
character often mirroring the complications in real life) .
3. Resolution: There needs to be a resolution of the complication. The
complication may be resolved for better or worse/happily or unhappily .
Sometimes there are a number of complications that have to be
resolved. These add and sustain interest and suspense for the reader.
~ Kinds of narrative text:
- Legend,
- Fables,
- Fairy tales,
- Myths, etc….


# Structure that we used in narrative text:
1. The use of noun phrases ( a beautiful princes, a huge temple ).
2. The use of connectives (first, before that, then, finally).
3. The use of adverbial phrases of time and place (in the garden, two days ago).
4. The use of simple past tense (he walked away from the village).
5. The use of action verbs (walk, sleep, wakeup).
6. The use saying verbs (say, talk, ask).
7. The use of thinking verbs, feeling verbs, verbs of sense).

# Language features
1. Focus on specific and individualized participants.
2. Use some of behavioral and verbal processes.
3. Use of material process.
4. Use relation process and mental process.
5. Use past tense.
6. Use of temporal conjunctions and temporal circumstances.


Example:
The Lion and The Mouse
~ Orientation:
One day a lion slept in the jungle. A tiny mouse ran over the lion’s head and down his nose. The lion awoke with a loud roar, he was very angry . His paw caught the little mouse.

~ Complication:
The lion opened his huge jaws to swallow the mouse, “pardon me, o king, I beg of you “cried the frightened Mouse“ if you will online forgive me this time , I shall never forget your kindness . I meant no harm and I certainly didn’t want to disturb your majesty. If you will spare my life, perhaps I may be able to do you a good turn, too. “The lion began to laugh, and he laughed and laughed.
“How could a tiny creature like you ever do anything to help me? “ And he shook with laughter “Oh well, “ he shrugged , looking down at the frightened Mouse , “ you’re not so much of a meal anyway. “
He took his paw off the poor little prisoner and the mouse quickly scampered away. Some time after this, some hunters, trying to capture the lion alive. They set up rope nets in the jungle. The lion fell into the trap . He roared and thrashed . His thunderous bellows echoed through the jungle. The tiny mouse heard the lion’s roars, “that may be the lion who once freed me, “ he Said, remembering his promise . And he ran to see whether he could help.

~ Resolution:
Discovering the sate state the lion was in, the mouse aid to him, “stop, stop ! You neither must nor roar. If you make so much noise, the hunters will come and capture you, I’ll get you out of this trap.With his sharp little teeth the mouse gnawed at the ropes until they broke. The lion had stepped
out of the net and was free . Then the mouse said, “now, was I not right ? “ .
“Thank you, good mouse, “said the lion gently. “ you did help me even though I am big and you are so little . I see now that kindness is always worth while. “