Narrative text

Narrative text is a text which contains about story (fiction/non fiction/tales/folktales/fables/myths/epic) and its plot consists of climax of the story (complication) then followed by the resolution.

A narrative text is a text amuse, entertain and deal with actual or vicarious experience in different ways. Narrative deal with problematic events which lead to a crisis or turning point of some kind, which in turn finds a resolution.

The generic structure of narrative text :

Orientation : It sets the scene and introduces the participants (it answers the questions; Who, What, When and Where)

Complication: A crisis or a problem arises. It usually involves the main characters.

Resolution: Solving problems. The contents of the story, can end up with joy (happy ending) or could also end up with sadness (sad ending).

Reorietiation (optional) : The change which happens to the participants and the lessons we can learn from the story.

The kinds of narrative text :

Myth
A tradisional story which may describe the origins of the world, a place, and / or of people. It is considered a true sacred in he remote past.

Legend
A true story primarily about human heroes in the recent past and may feature some religious reference.

Folktale
A story which is regarded as fiction. It can be a non-sacred fictional story that occurs “once upon the time“ and features human and nonhuman characters.

FolkloreA collection of fictional tales about people and / or animals. It include myth and tales.

Example Narrative text :

 "MALIN KUNDANG"

Orientation :

A long time ago, in a small village near the beach in West Sumatra, a woman and her son lived. They were Malin Kundang and her mother. Her mother was a single parent because Malin Kundang's father had passed away when he was a baby. Malin Kundang had to live hard with his mother.
   Malin Kundang was a healthy, dilligent, and strong boy. He usually went to sea to catch fish. After getting fish he would bring it to his mother, or sold the caught fish in the town.

  Complication :

One day, when Malin Kundang was sailing, he saw a merchant's ship which was being raided by a small band of prates. He helped the merchant. With his brave and power, Malin Kundang defeated the pirates. The merchant was so happy and thanked to him. In return the merchant asked Malin Kundang to sail with him. To get a better life, Malin Kundang agreed. He left his mother alone.
   Many years later, Malin Kundang became wealthy. He had a huge ship and was helped by many ship crews loading trading goods. Perfectly he had a beautiful wife too. When he was sailing his trading journey, his ship landed on a beach near a small village. The villagers recognized him. The news ran fast in the town; “Malin Kundang has become rich and now he is here”.

  An old woman ran to the beach to meet the new rich merchant. She was Malin Kundang’s mother. She wanted to hug him, released her sadness of being lonely after so long time. Unfortunately, when the mother came, Malin Kundang who was in front of his well dressed wife and his ship crews denied meeting that old lonely woman. For three times her mother begged Malin Kundang and for three times he yelled at her.

Resolution :

At last Malin Kundang said to her "Enough, old woman! I have never had a mother like you, a dirty and ugly woman!" After that he ordered his crews to set sail. He would leave the old mother again but in that time she was full of both sadness and angriness.
  Finally, enraged, she cursed Malin Kundang that he would turn into a stone if he didn't apologize. Malin Kundang just laughed and really set sail.

In the quiet sea, suddenly a thunderstorm came. His huge ship was wrecked and it was too late for Malin Kundang to apologize. He was thrown by the wave out of his ship. He fell on a small island. It was really too late for him to avoid his curse. Suddenly, he turned into a stone.