narrative text

NARATIVE TEXT

A.      Definition Of Narrative Text

Narrative is a text focusing some specific participants that have several structural features making different for other genres. Narative has social function that is to tell stories either in present which is called present narative, past events wich called past narrative and future wich is called future narative to entertain the readers (Smalley and Ruetten, 1984). Narative is used most often in: fables, myths and legends, detective stories, adventure stories.  

B.     The generic structure of Narrative text :

1.    Orientation :

Introduction the participants and informing the time and the place. It also introduce some characters involved in this genre.

2.    Complication :

Describtion the rising crises which the participants have to do with or among participants relationship in a process of social interaction.

3.    Resolution :

Showing the way of participant to solve the crises, better or worse. The end can be open ended or close ended. Open ended is a conclusion that depens on the perception of the readers. Whereas, close ended is an end of a story in which the conclusion is early stated.

4.    Re-orientation :

The ending of the story. (Opsional)

5.    Coda:

Which summarizes the point of the story.

C.       Language features :

1.         Use active verbs.

Example : play, ran, work, help, ect

2.         Use past tense.

Example : But when they got there the boy laughed at them for their pains; there was no wolf there.

3.         Use connectives or conjunction.

Example : and, after, then, finally, etc.

4.         The first person (I or We) or the third person (He, She, or They).

Example : So he ran toward the village crying out, with all his might, “Wolf! Wolf! Come and help!.....

5.         Use specific nouns.

6.         Use adjective and adverbs

D.    Kind of Narrative text :

1.         Legend : Sangkuriang, Malin Kundang, etc.

2.         Fable : Mousedeer and crocodile.

3.         Fairy tale : Cinderella, Snow white, Pinocchio, etc.

4.         Science fiction

Example I :

THE BOY WHO CRIED “WOLF”

There was once a shepherd-boy who kept his flock at a little distance from the village. Once he thought he would play a trick on the villagers and have some fun at their expense. So he ran toward the village crying out, with all his might, “Wolf! Wolf! Come and help! The wolves are at my lambs!” The kind villagers left their work and ran to the field to help him. But when they got there the boy laughed at them for their pains; there was no wolf there.

Still another day the boy tried the same trick, and the villagers came running to help and got laughed at again. Then one day a wolf did break into the fold and began killing the lambs. In great fright, the boy ran for help. “Wolf! Wolf!” he screamed. “There is a wolf in the flock! Help!”

The villagers heard him, but they thought it was another mean trick; no one paid the least attention, or went near him. And the shepherd-boy lost all his sheep.

Text analyses:

Generic Structure	Example
Orientation	There was once a shepherd-boy who kept his flock at a little distance from the village.
Complication	Once he thought he would play a trick on the villagers and have some fun at their expense. So he ran toward the village crying out, with all his might, “Wolf! Wolf! Come and help! The wolves are at my lambs!”  The kind villagers left their work and ran to the field to help him. But when they got there the boy laughed at them for their pains; there was no wolf there. Still another day the boy tried the same trick, and the villagers came running to help and got laughed at again
Resolution	Then one day a wolf did break into the fold and began killing the lambs. In great fright, the boy ran for help. “Wolf! Wolf!” he screamed. “There is a wolf in the flock! Help!”
Re-orientation	The villagers heard him, but they thought it was another mean trick; no one paid the least attention, or went near him. And the shepherd-boy lost all his sheep.

Example 2:

BANDUNG BONDOWOSO AND RORO JONGGRANG

Bandung Bondowoso loved Roro Jonggrang. Unfortunately, She refused to marry him unless he could build a thousand temples in one night.

With the help of thousand of spirits, he was able to erect the temples. Before dawn he almost finished his work. To know it, Roro Jonggrang asked all girls to wake up and pound rice. All the spirits ran away because they were frightened by the sound and thought that the dawn came. Because of their running away, there was only one more temple which was not completed by Bandung Bondowoso. He was maddened by her deceit and turn her to be a temple to complete a thousand temple.

Text Analysis :

Generic Structure	Example
ORIENTATION	Bandung Bondowoso loved Roro Jonggrang.
COMPLICATION	Unfortunately, She refused to marry him unless he could build a thousand temples in one night.
RESOLUTION	With the help of thousand of spirits, he was able to erect the temples. Before dawn he almost finished his work. To know it, Roro Jonggrang asked all girls to wake up and pound rice. All the spirits ran away because they were frightened by the sound and thought that the dawn came.
COMPLICATION	Because of their running away, there was only one more temple which was not completed by Bandung Bondowoso.
RESOLUTION	He was maddened by her deceit and turn her to be a temple to complete a thousand temple.

·           Use past tense     : Bandung Bondowoso loved Roro Jonggrang

·           First person         : With the help of thousand of spirits, he was able to erect the
                               temples

·           Conjunction        : Before dawn he almost finished his work.

·           Specifict noun     :Bandung Bondowoso, Roro Jonggrang.

Example 3 :

STORY OF RABBIT AND BEAR

Once upon a time, there lived as neighbours, a bear and a rabbit. The rabbit is a good shot. In contrary, the bear is always clumsy ad could not use the arrow to good advantage.

One day, the bear called over the rabbit and asked the rabbit to take his bow and arrows and came with bear to the other side of the hill. The rabbit was fearing to arouse the bear's anger so he could not refuse it. He consented and went with the bear and shot enough buffalo to satisfy the hungry family. Indeed he shot and killed so many that there was lots of meat left after the bear and his family had loaded themselves and packed all they could carry home.

The bear was very gluttonous and did not want the rabbit to get any of the meat. The rabbit could not even taste the blood from the butchering as the bear would throw earth on the blood and dry it up. The poor rabbit would have to go home hungry after his hard day's work.

The bear was the father of five children. The youngest child was very kind to the rabbit. He was very hearty eater. The mother bear always gave him an extra large piece of meat but the youngest child did not eat it. He would take it outside with him and pretended to play ball with the meat. He kicked toward the rabbit's house and when he got close to the door he would give the meat with such a great kick. The meat would fly into the rabbit's house. In this way, the poor rabbit would get his meal unknown to the papa bear.

Analysis text:

Generic Structure	Example
Orientation	Once upon a time, there lived as neighbours, a bear and a rabbit. The rabbit is a good shot. In contrary, the bear is always clumsy ad could not use the arrow to good advantage.
Complication	One day, the bear called over the rabbit and asked the rabbit to take his bow and arrows and came with bear to the other side of the hill. The rabbit was fearing to arouse the bear's anger so he could not refuse it. He consented and went with the bear and shot enough buffalo to satisfy the hungry family. Indeed he shot and killed so many that there was lots of meat left after the bear and his family had loaded themselves and packed all they could carry home..........
Resolution	In this way, the poor rabbit would get his meal unknown to the papa bear.

REFERENCE

-        http://www.google.com/examplenarrativetext.

-        http://www.google.com/Kane, Thomas. S. 2000.The Oxford Essential Guide to Writing. New York: Barkley Books.