Narrative Text

What is a narrative?

A narrative is a piece of text which tells a story and, in doing so, entertains or informs the reader or listener.

Features of a narrative

Constructing a narrative

The steps for constructing a narrative are:

• an orientation (can be a paragraph, a picture or opening chapter) in which the narrator tells the audience about who is in the story, when the story is taking place and where the action is happening
• a complication that sets off a chain of events that influences what will happen in the story
• a sequence of events where the characters react to the complication
• a resolution in which the characters finally sort out the complication
• a coda that provides a comment or moral based on what has been learned from the story (an optional step).

Language features in a narrative

The language features usually found in a narrative are:

• specific characters
• time words that connect events to tell when they occur
• verbs to show the actions that occur in the story
• descriptive words to portray the characters and settings.

Models of narrative

King Midas

Long ago there lived a king who was the richest man in the world. His name was Midas; however, he was not happy.

Midas longed to be even richer. He wanted to be richer than all the kings in the world put together.

One day, as Midas sat on his throne thinking of ways to become richer, his servants came to him with an old man.

‘Master,’ said the first servant. ‘We have found this person wandering around in your orchard.’

‘It is Silenus, the friend of the god Bacchus,’ said the second servant.

Midas had an idea. He welcomed the old man and said, ‘You shall b my guest for ten days. Please, eat and drink as much as you like.’

At the end of the ten days Midas took Silenus back to Bacchus. The god was very happy to see his lost friend. Bacchus turned to Midas and said, ‘I will grant you any wish you make.’

Midas could hardly believe his ears. Here was his chance to become richer. He could become richer than all the kings in the world put together.

‘My wish is … that everything I touch will turn into gold!’

‘Your wish is granted,’ laughed Bacchus, ‘But will that really make you happy, Midas?’

On his return to his palace Midas tried out his new power. He picked up a stone and it turned to gold. He touched his clothes and they turned to gold. He changed a whole tree into gold by rubbing his hands over the trunk. Midas was so excited.

Back at the place, Midas sat down and called for some food and drink. His chair turned to gold and, although he was uncomfortable, Midas still was happy that he touched turned to gold.

A servant brought Midas a bowl of water so that he could wash his hands. As soon as Midas put his hands into the bowl, the water turned to gold. Next, Midas took a piece of bread. Before he could get it to his mouth, it too had turned to gold. He could eat nothing without it turning to gold.

Miserable, Midas went for walk in his garden. His children ran up to him. Without thinking, Midas put his arms around them and instantly they turned into little gold statues, Midas now cried.

Midas hurried to Bacchus and pleaded that he take away his golden touch.

‘Didn’t I tell you that the golden touch would not bring you happiness?’ asked Bacchus. ‘Keep your gift and don’t come whingeing to me.’

Then Midas went down on his knees and, with golden tears running down his cheeks, begged for Bacchus to show mercy.

‘I was wrong to be greedy and to love gold so much,’ said Midas.

Bacchus felt sorry for Midas and told him how to cure the golden touch. He had to go to the River Pactolus and wash in its clear water. This would take away the golden touch. Midas did so.

Midas then returned to his palace. On the way he touched a brunch of a tree and it did not turn to gold. Midas was so relieved. But in his garden he saw his children, still as golden statues. He quickly grabbed a bucket, ran to the River Pactolus and scooped up some water. He took this back to the garden and poured it over his golden children. Immediately they came alive and were no longer gold.

Midas then called for a feast to celebrate. He told his servants to get rid of the gold plates as he was sick of the sight of gold. Midas enjoyed being able to eat and drink again. No longer did he want to be richest of the rich.

Midas had found out that all the gold in the world does not bring happiness.

Source: Anderson, Mark and Kathy Anderson. 2003. Text Types in English 2. South Yarra: Macmillan Education Australia Pty Ltd.