Narrative writing The secrets of writing great narrative

Narrative writing The secrets of writing great narrative

What is a Narrative? Simply Stated A STORY Ø Narrative essays are often anecdotal, experiential, and personal—allowing students to express themselves in a creative ways.

What makes a good story? The common features of a good story are: Ø Orientation/Exposition Ø Complication/Conflict, and Ø Resolution/Denoument This is called Narrative Structure

Narrative Structure Exposition/Orientation: This sets the scene, creating a visual picture of the setting, atmosphere and time of the story. Ø Characters are introduced and clues are set in place for the coming complication. Ø Ø Some ways authors do this are chronological, in media res (in the middle of the action), or as a big reveal Who are all these people?

Exposition Models Ø Character Exposition w/ Dialogue: Ullman had asked a question he hadn’t caught. That was bad; Ullman was the type of man who would file such lapses away in a mental Rolodex for later consideration. “I’m sorry? ” “I asked if your wife fully understands what you would be taking on here. And there’s your son, of course. ” He glanced down at the application in front of him. “Daniel. Your wife isn’t a bit intimidated by the idea? ” “Wendy is an extraordinary woman. ” “And your son is also extraordinary? ” King, The Shining (1977), p. 2.

Exposition Models Ø 124 was spiteful. Full of a baby’s venom. The women in the house knew it and so did the children. For years each put up with the spite in his own way, but by 1873 Sethe and her daughter Denver were its only victims. The grandmother, Baby Suggs, was dead, and the sons, Howard and Buglar, had run away by the time they were thirteen years old – as soon as merely looking in a mirror shattered it. Ø Morrison, Beloved (1987), p. 2

Exposition Models Ø This is the middle of my life. I think of it as a place, like the middle of a river, the middle of a bridge, halfway across, halfway over. I’m supposed to have accumulated things by now: possessions, responsibilities, achievements, experience and wisdom. I’m supposed to be a person of substance. But since coming back here I don’t feel weightier. I feel lighter, as if I’m shedding matter, losing molecules, calcium from my bones, cells from my blood… Ø Atwood, Cat’s Eye (1988), p. 13

Exposition Models Ø On the morning the last Lisbon daughter took her turn at suicide – it was Mary this time, and sleeping pills, like Therese – the two paramedics arrived at the house knowing exactly where the knife drawer was, and the gas oven, and the beam in the basement from which it was possible to tie a rope. Ø Eugenides, The Virgin Suicides, p. 1.

Narrative Structure Complication/Conflict: Ø This is where a problem or complication occurs that affects the setting, time or characters.

Types of Conflict Ø Internal Conflict: Ø External Conflict: Struggle occurring within a character’s mind… this tends to make them more accessible/lifelike. Ø Struggle occurring l between the character and some outside, opposing force… often times this is with the antagonist MAN VS. SELF l l l MAN VS. NATURE MAN VS. SOCIETY

Narrative Structure Ø CLIMAX: the most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination of the conflict resulting in an impressive or intense event

Narrative Structure Falling Action: Ø This is where the conflict lessens or de-escalates. Resolution/ Problem is solved: This is where the problem is really solved and the story ends… other loose ends are tied up.

Narrative Structure Evaluative Ending/ Moral: Often there may be a moral or a message at the end of the story. i. e. “Timmy learned that he should treat others the way he would like to be treated…”

Putting It All Together 1. Exposition/ Orientation Beginning of Story 2. Rising Action 3. Climax Middle of Story 4. Falling Action 5. Resolution End of Story

ACTIVITY – Little Red Riding Hood Think, Pair, Share 1. Think about the story of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’. 1. Working in pairs, match parts of the story with the narrative structure, (i. e. orientation, complication, minor resolution, new complication, resolution and moral) we have just revised. 2. Share aloud with the class

Little Red Riding Hood 1. Little Red Riding Hood sets out for Grand mother’s house – Orientation 2. Little Red Riding Hood meets the wolf – Complication 3. The wolf leaves Little Red Riding hood and races to Grandmother’s house – Minor Resolution (Wolf left Red Riding Hood alone) 4. The wolf eats Grandmother – New Complication/Problem 5. The wolf tricks Little Red Riding Hood – New Complication/Problem 6. The woodcutter saves Little Red Riding Hood – Resolution 7. Children should not talk to strangers – Moral of the story

The Writing Process (RID) R Replace words, phrases and sentences with more effective ones. I Insert extra words, phrases and sentences. D Delete ineffective words, phrases and sentences. Edit your work

Points of View Writing from different points of view can add interest and detail to a story. Ø Ø Ø First Person Second Person Third Person

First Person Character speaks directly to the reader. Ø Helps author to reveal thoughts and feelings in an intimate way. Ø Disadvantage - reader only knows about the events of the story from only one point of view. Ø E. g. Humpty Dumpty: I am sitting on top of the cold sandstone wall, gazing at the horizon. I am worried I might fall off and hurt myself.

Second Person Not used often for narrative writing Ø Widely used by non-fiction writers Ø Written in an easy style as if talking directly to the reader. Ø E. g. Humpty Dumpty: You should see him sitting there on that wall. You wonder what he’s thinking about. You imagine that he may fall.

Third Person The writer knows everything there is to know about the characters. Ø The writer can see inside their minds. Ø The writer knows what they are thinking and feeling. Ø E. g. Humpty Dumpty: Humpty Dumpty is sitting calmly on top of the sandstone wall, gazing at the horizon. He wonders whether he might fall off and hurt himself.

Narrative Features Effective narrative writing has a range of language features. 1. Use of dialogue to elicit an emotional response from the reader 2. Descriptive language, including the use of devices such as metaphors, personification, etc.

Narrative Features 3. Effective characterisation to elicit an emotional response from the reader. 4. Past or present tense – being consistent throughout. 5. Use of a variety of simple, compound and complex sentences

Working in groups, create a graphic organiser to display the important aspects of Narrative. Include these headings: 1. Narrative Structure 2. Narrative Features 3. RID

Graphic Organiser ‘Writing Great Narrative’ Narrative Structure Narrative Features RID Orientation Use of Dialogue Descriptive language Complication Effective Characterisation Past or present Tense Minor Resolution Variety of Sentences New Complication Resolution Replace Insert Delete