what's Narrative?

Narrative Text
By Husnun Naim

What is narrative? Narrative is an account of a sequence of events, usually in chronological order. Relating to kinds of text, which student has to complete studying in high school, narrative is a text which retells the story or previous experiences. The purpose of the text is to entertain or amuse readers or listeners about the story.
Narrative is basically story and within this, story telling, there are many kinds of narrative - comedy, mystery, romance, horror are some of the commoner types. A poem can also be a narrative if it tells a story rather than just describing something.
According to L. Spencer, in A Step-by-Step Guide to Narrative Writing. Rosen, 2005, In writing a narrative, an author has a chance to make his or her mark on the world by relating a story that only he or she can tell. Whether it comes from a personal experience or is one that the writer has imagined, the point of a narrative is to bring one's subject to life. By using sensory details, the five Ws and H (who, what, where, when, why, and how), and basic story structure, any subject can be made exciting
Common forms of narrative text which are studied in high school are:
Legend
What is legend? A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history. Typically, a legend is a short, traditional and historicized narrative performed in a conversational mode. Some define legend as folktale. The example of legend in narrative text are
• Sangkuriang
• Malin Kundang
• The legend of Tangkuban Perahu
• The story of Toba lake
Fable
What is fabel? A fabel is a short allegorical narrative making a moral point, traditionally by means of animal characters who speak and act like human beings. The example of fable in narrative text are:
• Mousedeer and crocodile.
• The Ants and the Grasshopper
• The smartest parrot
• The story of monkey and crocodile
Fairy tale
What is fairy tale? According to Wikipedia, fairy tale is an English language term for a type of short narrative corresponding to the French phrase "conte de fée". A fairy tale typically features such folkloric characters as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. The example of fairy tale in narrative text are:
• Cinderella
• Snow white
• Pinocchio
• Beauty and the beast
• The story of Rapunzel
Science fiction
What is science fiction? According to Basil Davenport. 1955, Science fiction is fiction based upon some imagined development of science, or upon the extrapolation of a tendency in society. Science fiction is that class of prose narrative treating of a situation that could not arise in the world we know. Some examples of science fiction are:
• To the Moon from the Earth by Jules Verne
• Starship Trooper by Robert Heinlein
• A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

CINDERELLA

Once upon a time, there was a young girl named Cinderella. She lived with her step mother and two step sisters.
The step mother and sisters were conceited and bad tempered. They treated Cinderella very badly. Her step mother made Cinderella do the hardest works in the house; such as scrubbing the floor, cleaning the pot and pan and preparing the food for the family. The two step sisters, on the other hand, did not work about the house. Their mother gave them many handsome dresses to wear.
One day, the two step sister received an invitation to the ball that the king’s son was going to give at the palace. They were excited about this and spent so much time choosing the dresses they would wear. At last, the day of the ball came, and away went the sisters to it. Cinderella could not help crying after they had left.
“Why are crying, Cinderella?” a voice asked. She looked up and saw her fairy godmother standing beside her, “because I want so much to go to the ball” said Cinderella. “Well” said the godmother,”you’ve been such a cheerful, hardworking, uncomplaining girl that I am going to see that you do go to the ball”.
Magically, the fairy godmother changed a pumpkin into a fine coach and mice into a coachman and two footmen. Her godmother tapped Cinderella’s raged dress with her wand, and it became a beautiful ball gown. Then she gave her a pair of pretty glass slippers. “Now, Cinderella”, she said; “You must leave before midnight”. Then away she drove in her beautiful coach.
Cinderella was having a wonderfully good time. She danced again and again with the king’s son. Suddenly the clock began to strike twelve, she ran toward the door as quickly as she could. In her hurry, one of her glass slipper was left behind.
A few days later, the king’ son proclaimed that he would marry the girl whose feet fitted the glass slipper. Her step sisters tried on the slipper but it was too small for them, no matter how hard they squeezed their toes into it. In the end, the king’s page let Cinderella try on the slipper. She stuck out her foot and the page slipped the slipper on. It fitted perfectly.
Finally, she was driven to the palace. The king’s son was overjoyed to see her again. They were married and live happily ever after.

Narrative text in Remeo and Juliet’s Romantic and tragic story
In the town of Verona there lived two families, the Capulets and the Montagues. They engaged in a bitter feud. Among the Montagues was Romeo, a hot-blooded young man with an eye for the ladies. One day, Romeo attended the feast of the Capulets', a costume party where he expected to meet his love, Rosaline, a haughty beauty from a well-to-do family. Once there, however, Romeo's eyes felt upon Juliet, and he thought of Rosaline no more.
The vision of Juliet had been invading his every thought. Unable to sleep, Romeo returned late that night to the Juliet's bedroom window. There, he was surprised to find Juliet on the balcony, professing her love for him and wishing that he were not a "Montague", a name behind his own. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Romeo was ready to deny his name and professed his love. The two agreed to meet at nine o-clock the next morning to be married.
Early the next morning, Romeo came to Friar Lawrence begging the friar to marry him to Juliet. The Friar performed the ceremony, praying that the union might someday put an end to the feud between the two families. He advised Romeo kept the marriage a secret for a time.
On the way home, Romeo chanced upon his friend Mercutio arguing with Tybalt, a member of the Capulet clan. That qurreling last caused Merquito died. Romeo was reluctant no longer. He drew his sword and slew Tybalt died. Romeo realized he had made a terrible mistake. Then Friar Lawrence advised Romeo to travel to Mantua until things cool down. He promised to inform Juliet.
In the other hand, Juliet's father had decided the time for her to marry with Paris. Juliet consulted Friar Lawrence and made a plot to take a sleeping potion for Juliet which would simulate death for three days. The plot proceeded according to the plan. Juliet was sleeping in death.
Unfortunately, The Friar's letter failed to reach Romeo. Under the cover of darkness, he broke into Juliet's tomb. Romeo kissed the lips of his Juliet one last time and drank the poison. Meanwhile, the effects of the sleeping potion wear off. Juliet woke up calling for Romeo. She found her love next to her but was lying dead, with a cup of poison in his hand. She tried to kiss the poison from his lips, but failed. Then Juliet put out his dagger and plunged it into her breast. She died

Note: Romeo and Juliet is a famous play by William Shakespeare. This example of narrative text about romantic and tragic story was written and simplified from love-story.com
Read the other examples:
Narrative
• Narrative in Love Story "Naruto and Hinata"
• Kinds of Narrative
• Contoh / Example of Narrative Text "The Story of Lake Toba"
• Narrative Text and Most Dominant Language Features
• Narrative Text with Direct Speeches in the Story of Monkey and Crocodile
• Text Types in Three Main Genres
• Example of Narrative Text in the Legend of Tangkuban Perahu
• Kite's Tale as Example of Narrative
• Narrative Analysis on Malin Kundang Story
• Reading a Narrative
• Narrative Example in Arabian Story
• Example of Narrative Text; The Smartest Parrot
• Story of Narrative Text
• CINDERELLA STORY; the Clearest Example of Narrative Text

Narrative in Love Story “Naruto and Hinata
Naruto was walking alone in the Konoha village, he saw Hinata and waved to her. Fortunately
Hinata turned around and walked over to him.

"Hey, Hinata, would you like to take a walk with me?" Naruto asked smilingly but Hinata blushed and looked down, quiet for a second.
"Hm? What's wrong?" Naruto ask looking at her.
"Oh! Um nothing Naruto kun. I... I love to.. walk with with you." Hinata said shyly.

Naruto placed his hands behind his head and smiled. Hinata walked by him as the two were silent for a moment. "Hinata, why are you so quiet all the time?" Naruto broke the silent.
Hinata didnt answer, then hesitated, "....I.... I've... always... been... that way." She said softly.
"I see. You need to talk more-- how am I supposed to know more about you, if you don't talk. You're always acting weird around me." Naruto pointed out.
Hinata looked at him shyly then looked down looking ashamed. "S.......sorry. I--"
"Hm?" Naruto replied not opening his mouth.
"I..... I l--li.....like y.. you!" She said finally committing her feelings. Her face blushed a deep red.

Naruto stopped walking. He didn't know what to say. Silence took ove the moment.
Tears filled in Hinata's eyes "S-sorry!" She said in a quiet tone as she took off running, ashamed. Tears flew from her eyes as she ran passed.

Naruto ran after her. But Hinata ran fast. Suddenly She tripped on a tree stump. Her face implanted in the dirt, as her hands clenched the grass and dirt. She sobbed quietly.

Naruto finally caught up to her. He crouched down, placed his hand, shaking on Hinatas shoulder. "Hinata... do... do you really like me?" He asked in his quiet tone.
Under her muffled crying voice, Hinata answered, "y...yes..."
Naruto didn't answer for a moment, then he replied, "Well... I have...feelings for you too.... I like you, Hinata"

Note: This example of narrative text in love story of Naruto and Hinata is arranged from: quizilla.teennick.com/stories
Narrative Text with Direct Speeches in the Story of Monkey and Crocodile

Narrative text is often a story. A story is exploring participants thought, act and feeling. To gain that goal, narrative text will be arranged in lot of direct speeches. The following narrative text is structured as:
Orientation: The participants or characters of the story are a smart monkey and dull crocodile. The time set is just one day. The story takes place in a river
Complication: Every narrative text must consist of conflict or problem. A simple definition of problem is when something goes and it is not what we want. In the story the complication start when the crocodile want to eats the monkey. Of course the monkey don not want to be the crocodile's meal and that is the problem which sets the whole story.
Resolution: A problem must be resolved. It can succeed or fail. In this story, the monkey succeeds to solve the problem. He get free from the hungry crocodile.
To have clear understanding, take a look at the following example of narrative text about the way of a smart monkey getting free from from a hungry dull crocodile.

The Story of Smart Monkey and Dull Crocodile
One day there was a monkey. He wanted to cross a river. There he saw a crocodile so he asked the crocodile to take him across the other side of the river. The crocodile agree and told the monkey to jump on its back. Then the crocodile swam down the river with the monkey on his top.
Unluckily, the crocodile was very hungry, he stopped in the middle of the river and said to the monkey, “My father is very sick. He has to eat the heart of the monkey. So he will be healthy again.”
At the time, the monkey was in dangerous situation and he had to think hard. Then he had a good idea. He told the crocodile to swim back to the river bank. “What’s for?” asked the crocodile. “Because I don’t bring my heart,” said the monkey. “I left it under a tree, near some coconuts in the river bank.”
The crocodile agreed and turned around. He swam back to the bank of the river. As soon as they reached the river bank, the monkey jumped off the crocodile’s back. Then he climbed up to the top of a tree.
“Where is your heart?” asked the crocodile. “You are foolish,” said the monkey to the crocodile. “Now I am free and I have my heart.”
This narrative text is recomposed from ardianrisqi.c