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Beranda / Materi Bahasa Inggris

Narrative Text

Definition of Narrative Text

A narrative text is a type of text that tells a story or describes a sequence of events. Jadi, teks naratif adalah jenis teks yang menceritakan suatu cerita atau menggambarkan rangkaian peristiwa.

Social Function

The purpose of Narrative Text is to entertain or amuse the readers. Jadi, tujuan dari Narrative Text adalah untuk menghibur para pembacanya. 

Generic structure of narrative text

  • Orientation: This section introduces the characters, setting, and time frame of the story.
  • Complication: This section introduces the problem or conflict that the characters face.
  • Resolution: This section resolves the problem or conflict.
  • Reorientation: This section is optional, and it may be used to wrap up the story or to provide closure for the reader.

Kinds of Narrative Text

There are many kinds of narrative texts, but some of the most common include:
  • Fairy tales: These are stories about magical creatures and events, often with a moral lesson. Some popular fairy tales include "Cinderella", "The Three Little Pigs", and "The Tortoise and the Hare".
  • Fables: These are stories that teach a moral lesson, often using animals as characters. Some popular fables include "The Lion and the Mouse", "The Tortoise and the Hare", and "The Ant and the Grasshopper".
  • Myths: These are stories about gods, goddesses, and other supernatural beings. Myths often explain the origins of natural phenomena or cultural practices. Some popular myths include the Greek myths about Zeus, Poseidon, and Aphrodite.
  • Legends: These are stories about historical events or characters that have been exaggerated or embellished over time. Some popular legends include the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and the legend of Robin Hood.
  • Short stories: These are brief narratives that typically focus on a single event or character. Short stories can be fictional or nonfictional. Some popular short stories include "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, and "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry.
  • Novels: These are long narratives that typically feature multiple characters and subplots. Novels can be fictional or nonfictional. Some popular novels include "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien, "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, and "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Language Features of narrative text

  • Use of the past tense: Narrative texts typically use the past tense to tell the story. This helps to create a sense of distance from the events being described, and it also helps to establish the story as a work of fiction.
  • Use of action verbs: Action verbs are verbs that describe physical actions. They are often used in narrative texts to create a sense of movement and excitement.
  • Use of descriptive language: Descriptive language is language that uses vivid imagery to create a picture in the reader's mind. It is often used in narrative texts to help the reader visualize the setting, the characters, and the events of the story.
  • Use of dialogue: Dialogue is the spoken conversation between characters. It is often used in narrative texts to reveal character development, to advance the plot, and to create a sense of realism.
  • Use of figurative language: Figurative language is a language that uses figures of speech, such as similes, metaphors, and personification, to create a more vivid and interesting effect. It is often used in narrative texts to add depth and meaning to the story.

Here are some additional language features that may be found in narrative texts:

  • Temporal conjunctions: These are words or phrases that indicate the order of events in a story, such as "first", "then", "next", and "finally".
  • Adjectives: These are words that describe nouns, such as "big", "red", and "happy". They are often used in narrative texts to create a more vivid picture of the setting, the characters, and the events of the story.
  • Adverbs: These are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They are often used in narrative texts to indicate how, when, where, or to what extent something happens.
  • Exclamations: These are words or phrases that express strong emotion, such as "Wow!", "Oh no!", and "I can't believe it!". They are often used in narrative texts to add emphasis or excitement.

Example of a narrative text

Orientation: Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Cinderella. She lived with her stepmother and two stepsisters, who were very mean to her. They made her do all the housework, and they never let her go to the ball.

Complication: One day, Cinderella's stepmother told her that she could not go to the ball. Cinderella was very sad, but then her fairy godmother appeared. The fairy godmother waved her magic wand, and Cinderella's rags turned into a beautiful ball gown. She also gave Cinderella a pair of glass slippers.

Resolution: Cinderella went to the ball, and she met the prince. They danced all night long, and the prince fell in love with her. At the stroke of midnight, Cinderella had to leave. She ran down the palace steps, but one of her glass slippers fell off.

Reorientation: The next day, the prince found the glass slipper and went from house to house, trying it on all the girls. When it fit Cinderella, the prince knew that she was the girl he wanted to marry. They lived happily ever after.

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