A narrative is an account of connected events or experiences. Narratives can describe real events or imagined ones, and they can be communicated in many forms. This lesson introduces the basic meaning, purposes, and formats of narrative.
A narrative is an account of a sequence of related events or experiences. It may be told by a narrator, especially in written works, and it is presented to an audience. A brief report and a multi-volume novel can both be narratives: length is not what defines them; connected events are.
All flashcards
What is a narrative?
An account of a sequence of related events or experiences presented to an audience.
What is storytelling?
The social and cultural activity of sharing narratives.
What is a protagonist?
The central character or group around whom a story revolves.
How do nonfiction and fiction narratives differ?
Nonfiction presents real events or experiences; fiction presents imagined ones, though a work may combine both.
What does narrative mode include?
Choices about perspective, language, information, medium, and commentary that frame a story.
Quiz questions
What is the central feature of a narrative?Answer: It presents a sequence of related events or experiences.
Which is an example of nonfiction narrative?Answer: A memoir recounting the writer’s experiences.
How does a narrative differ from a simple description?Answer: A narrative relates connected events; a description may present only qualities or a state.
Which statement best distinguishes storytelling from narration?Answer: Storytelling is sharing stories socially; narration can mean constructing a narrative or telling its events.
A sequence of images shows a character leaving home, travelling, and returning. Why can it count as a narrative?Answer: It communicates a sequence of connected events without using words.
Based on the Wikipedia article Narrative, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.