Narrative structure
Narrative structure refers to the framework that shapes the way a story is presented and understood. It distinguishes between the "story," which encompasses the sequence of events and information conveyed, and the "plot," which is the arrangement and delivery of those events. Understanding narrative structure involves examining how the narrative elements, such as character actions and settings, interact and are organized.
Typically, the analysis begins with foundational questions about the who, what, when, where, and why of the story, which helps in grasping the basic facts of the narrative. However, the plot requires deeper investigation into the dramatic structure, often broken down into five key components: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion. Each part serves a unique function in building tension and resolving conflicts.
Additionally, narrative structure involves considering the writer's perspective and point of view, as these choices can significantly influence how a story is perceived by the audience. By exploring these elements, readers can gain insights into the underlying themes and motivations within a narrative, enhancing their overall understanding and appreciation of the work.
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Narrative structure
Narrative structure is the study of how the plot and story of a work interact. Though commonly confused, story and plot are not the same. The story contains all the information conveyed by a work and is the literal sequence of events in a narrative. The plot refers to how the content is arranged and presented to the audience. It includes the parts of the story, how they are arranged, why they are arranged in that specific way, and many more details about the narrative itself. Anything that attempts to tell a story—including novels, television shows, comics, and films—has a narrative structure.
The Story
The story is what most people look for in a narrative. When analyzing a story, it is often easiest to start by asking questions beginning with the words who, what, when, where, and why. For example, someone reads a novel and considers who the primary characters are, what actions they take, and why they take those actions, and addresses the setting by asking when and where the story takes place. A reader has a thorough grasp on the story when he or she can answer these questions easily. The story does not account for perspective (or point of view), subjective phrasing, or the writer's intent.
Plot
The plot is much less literal than the story. Studying the plot involves analyzing the narrative and work itself, as well as the sequence of events, and considering how the events in the story interact and why the writer chose to arrange them in a particular way. Most commonly, this involves studying the dramatic structure and how the story fits within it. Dramatic structure can commonly be broken down into five parts: the exposition, the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the conclusion. The exposition introduces the major characters and the setting. The rising action immediately follows the exposition, and introduces the major conflict of the story. Tensions rise until the climax, when the story's major conflict reaches its most tense point. After the climax, the falling action slowly winds the story down, and the conclusion ends the work.
Someone analyzing the plot might begin by asking how specific events in the story are utilized within the dramatic structure. For example, a reader might analyze how the writer uses events in the first half of the novel to build tension and suspense for a climax. A reader could also analyze what phrases the writer uses to help the reader visualize the setting.
Finally, the reader should study the narrative's perspective, including the points of view and how they influence the reader's perspective. Most importantly, a reader should ask why the writer chose to present the story from a given perspective. For example, a plot narrated by a biased character would present a biased and inaccurate account of the story's events to the reader. The reader should then ask why the writer included this perspective and how it contributes to the narration.
Bibliography
"How to Explain Narrative Structures in Writing." Classroom.Synonym.com. Demand Media. Web. 30 Dec. 2014. http://classroom.synonym.com/explain-narrative-structures-writing-1042.html
"Story and Plot." University of Freiburg English Department. University of Freiburg. Web. 30 Dec. 2014. http://www2.anglistik.uni-freiburg.de/intranet/englishbasics/Plot01.htm
"What Is Narrative Structure?" TheCinematheque.com. Pacific Cinematheque. Web. 30 Dec. 2014. http://thecinematheque.ca/education/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/LanguageofFilm01.pdf