Introduction to Narrative in Writing

A narrative is often referred to as a story or tale. It is a retold account of a chain of related events and/or experiences. A narrative is generally expressed as an organised sequence of written or spoken words, sometimes still or moving images, or any of these combinations. Narrative writing can be labelled simply as story writing. It can be either fiction or non-fiction, and sometimes occupy the space between a semi-autobiographical story, historical fiction, or a dramatically organised retelling of actual events. There are several characteristics and types of narrative that one needs to account for while indulging in narrative writing.

An Overview of Narrative

Meaning of Narrative 

1. A narrative is often referred to as a story or tale. It is a retold account of a chain of related events and/or experiences. It can be expressed via an organised sequence of written or spoken words, sometimes still or moving images, or any of these combinations.
2. It can be non-fictional (i.e., memoir, biography, news report, documentary, travelogue, etc.), fictional (i.e., fairy tale, fable, legend, thriller, novel, etc.), or sometimes occupying the space between a semi-autobiographical story, historical fiction, or a dramatically organised retelling of actual events.
3. The word narrative is derived from the Latin verb ‘narrare,’ which means ‘to tell, explain, recount, or relate,’ derived from the adjective ‘gnarus,’ which means ‘knowing or skilled.’
4. It can be found in various human creativity and forms of art and entertainment, such as literature (like prose, poetry, short story, novels, etc.), movies, theatres, speech, music and songs, comics, journalism, painting, sculptures, drawings, photography, and many others.

The History of Narrative

• The art of narrative, described as narration, is almost as old as the existence of human civilization
• Humans have been recounting narratives for as long as human civilization stretches back
• The physical archaeological evidence of narratives in India is found at the Indus valley civilisation site, Lothal, and the paintings found in the Ajanta and Ellora caves which primarily narrate the Jataka Tales
• Though how a narrative is expressed has changed over time, the primary purpose remains the same, that is, ‘to tell a story
• Oral storytelling was the beginning of the art of narration
• Myths, legends, fables, and folk tales were told, and ballads were performed aloud to entertain and inform the people and/or audience
• With the evolution of written techniques, written narratives evolved from the oral storytelling tradition. Anecdotes, poems, prose, etc., came into existence, becoming more widespread than oral storytelling
• Arts like paintings, drawings, music, and songs quickly became an important addition to narration

Characteristics of a Narrative

While studying and learning about the art of narration, one should consider its characteristics for a better and deeper understanding. Some of the characteristics are mentioned below:

1. Descriptive language: It focuses on evoking the feelings and emotions of the audience rather than directly stating facts. It uses literary techniques and devices like metaphors, phrasing, similes, onomatopoeia, personification, modulation, rhyming, and alliteration to make the narratives alluring and interesting.
2. Characters: A story can have a single character or a huge cast. In some stories, the only character present is the narrator himself. Almost all narratives have at least two characters – the lead or main character, the protagonist, and the villain, also known as the antagonist. Depending on the narration style, side characters may or may not be involved.
3. Plot: No matter what kind of a narrative it is, having a plot that makes sense is vital to the art of narration. A plot can be described as a series of events explained in an organised sequence that paves the way for the story’s development. It can be simple, complex, or multi-layered. A strong plot is key to a successful narration.

Types of Narrative

There are multiple ways of expressing a narrative. Some of the most common types of narrative are mentioned below:

• Linear narratives

 The story is told in chronological order of events and experiences. In linear narratives, the current scene (or event) is followed by the next logical scene (or event). Generally, movies, TV shows, and novels follow linear narratives. Some specific types of linear narratives are quest narratives like ‘Shrek,’ which focus on the main character’s quest to reach their goal (or achieve their dream), and historical narratives that follow a chronological sequence of events.

• Nonlinear narratives

Unlike linear narratives, nonlinear narratives are not expressed in chronological order of events. A well-known example is the novel ‘House of Leaves’, which is told via first-person narration, recovered documents, and footnotes. Nonlinear narratives emphasise the characters’ feelings, emotions, and perspectives (or characters) in the story. One can also include scenes or events providing an insight into a specific character or a group of characters, which generally wouldn’t fit in the story’s timeline.

• Viewpoint narratives:

It focuses on the perspective or viewpoint of the narrator about the events in the story. These are generally character-driven in nature rather than plot-driven. A popular example would be ‘The Catcher in the Rye.’

• Descriptive narratives:

Here, the focus is on the story setting, the feelings of the characters, and how the objects and characters look in the story. It involves vivid imagery, personification, and similes to introduce specific objects and thoughts. A well-known example is the short story ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ by Edgar Allan Poe.

Conclusion

A narrative is an account of a series (or chain) of related events and/or experiences expressed via an organised sequence of written or spoken words, sometimes still or moving images, or any of these combinations. The art of narration is almost as old as the existence of human civilisation. To fully comprehend the art of narration, one should be familiar with the  meaning of narrative and its characteristics, types of narrative, and examples of narrative.