NARRATIVE TEXT

Narrative text is a kind of text to retell the story that past tense. The purpose of the text is to entertain or to amuse the readers or listeners about the story.

The generic structure of Narrative text :

1.      Orientation :

It set the scene and introduce the participants (it answers the question : who, when, what, and where).

2.      Complication :

Tells the problems of the story and how the main characters solve them.

3.      Resolution :

The crisis is revolved, for better or worse.

4.      Re-orientation :

The ending of the story.

5.      Evaluation :

The stepping back to evaluate the story or the moral message of the story

Linguistic features :

·         Use active verbs.

·         Use past tense.

·         Use conjunction.

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

·         Use specific nouns.

·         Use adjective and adverbs

·         Example ; once upon a time, before, after, etc.

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

Examples of Narrative text :

THREE FISH

Once upon a time three fish lived in a pond. One evening, some fishermen passed by the pond and saw the fish. ‘This pond is full of fish’, they told each other excitedly. ‘we have never fished here before. We must come back tomorrow morning with our nets and catch these fish!’ So saying, the fishermen left.
When the eldest of the three fish heard this, he was troubled. He called the other fish together and said, ‘Did you hear what the fishermen said? W must leave this pond at once. The fishermen will return tomorrow and kill us all!’ The second of the three fish agreed. ‘You are right’, he said. ‘We must leave the pond.’
But the youngest fish laughed. ‘You are worrying without reason’, he said. ‘We have lived in this pond all our lives, and no fisherman has ever come here. Why should these men return? I am not going anywhere – my luck will keep me safe’.
The eldest of the fish left the pond that very evening with his entire family. The second fish saw the fishermen coming in the distance early next morning and left the pond at once with all his family. The third fish refused to leave even then.
The fishermen arrived and caught all the fish left in the pond. The third fish’s luck did not help him – he was caught and killed.

THE FOX AND THE GOAT

A fox fell into a well and couldn’t get out. By and by a thirsty goat came along. Seeing the fox in the well it asked if the water was good. “Good”, said the fox “It’s the best water I’ve tasted in all my life. Come down and try it yourself.”

The goat was thirsty so he got into the well. When he had drunk enough, he looked around but there was no way to get out. Then the fox said, “I have a good idea. You stand on your hind legs and put your forelegs against the side of the well. Then I’ll climb on your back, from there. I’ll step on your horns, and I can get out. And when I’m out, I’ll help you out of the well.”

The goat did as he was asked and the fox got on his back and climbed out of the well. Then he coolly walked away. The goat called out loudly after him and reminded him of his promise to help him out. The fox merely turned to him and said; “If you only had thought carefully about getting out, you wouldn’t have jumped into the well.”

The goat felt very sad. He called out loudly. An old man walking nearby heard him and put a plank into the well. The goat got out and thanked the old man.