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Key Elements of Narrative Text

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18 views1 page

Key Elements of Narrative Text

Uploaded by

sfernandes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Senior English Workbook VCE Units 3 and 4

Key elements of narrative texts


1 A narrative point of view
Who is telling the story? Is it told in first person? Or is it narrated by an
omniscient (all-knowing) narrator in third person? In a film, do we see the events
through the eyes of a particular character? Does the narrative voice change? If so,
when and what is the purpose of this change?

A narrative structure
The events of the story can be related in chronological order or in some other
way, such as through flashbacks. Is the narrative constructed in a particular way
for a particular reason?

A plot
‘Plot’ refers not only to what happens in the story. Plot is also about connections
between events and reasons for events occurring. Sometimes there will be a main
plot and one or more sub-plots. If there is a sub-plot in a text, ask yourself how
that is linked to the main plot—is it through characters and/or events, or through
some other device, such as a motif that runs through the text?

A setting
This refers to the physical environment of the text, as well as the text's socio-
historical context. To what extent does the environment have an impact on the
characters and events of the text? Would things have occurred differently in
another setting? What comments is the text making about that place and that
time? Would people reading or viewing the text at the time it was written react
differently from modern readers?

Characters
A text will have both major and minor characters, who may or may not grow or
develop in some way. Who is the main character (the protagonist) in the text and
how does this character interact with other characters in the text? How are the
characters connected? How do we find out information about the characters in
a text? Is the character's perception of himself/herself different from the reader's
perception? What comments about people and relationships is the creator of the
text making?

Themes
These are the messages or ideas contained in the text. What important ideas about
life does the text make you think about? What messages is the creator of the text
trying to convey? What have you learnt through reading or viewing this text?

A particular ideology
This refers to the values that are embodied in the text. What human qualities does
the creator of the text value or condemn? How can you tell? What aspects of human
behaviour does the creator of the text value or condemn? How can you tell? Does
the text have obvious ‘heroes’ and ‘villains’? Are we positioned to admire some
characters and not others? How does the creator of the text position the reader or
viewer?

Other linguistic features


What other features are there, connected with the form of the text, rather than
the content? Are there symbols? Metaphoric language? Colloquialisms? Irony?
Juxtaposition of scenes? Repetition? Dramatic devices? Humour?

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