Narrative art tells a story through visual means, often depicting religious or historical events. It can be a continuous narrative, a single event, or multiple scenes simultaneously. While some believe images are not good at telling a story, viewing art can occur over time. Examples include Giotto’s frescoes, Trajan’s Column, da Vinci’s The Last Supper, […]
Narrative communication uses stories to convey information or opinions. It is used to recount past events, provide context, influence opinions, and entertain. It has been important in medicine, but is becoming less necessary with advanced diagnostic tools. Narrative communication is a form of communication based on using stories to communicate information or opinion. Most people […]
Narrative discourse is a type of communication that involves telling a story in chronological order. It can be written or verbal and is often in first or third person. It comes in various forms in different media and can be analyzed to evaluate communication and media. Understanding the power of storytelling is important in today’s […]
Narrative nonfiction combines creative writing with factual reporting, creating an entertaining and well-constructed narrative. This genre includes biographies, essays, memoirs, personal essays, and certain types of journalism. The use of figurative language and a narrative style can determine whether a piece is considered nonfiction or narrative nonfiction. Biographies and memoirs may alter details, but this […]
First-person narratives are stories told by a character about their experiences, using “I” and “we” pronouns. They can be unreliable and limited in information. First-person is preferred in some genres, like detective fiction and creative nonfiction. The narrator may be the protagonist or an observer. Unreliable narrators may have a biased perspective, while reliable ones […]
Narrative poetry tells a story with conflict and characters, often sung for easier memorization. Epics and ballads are common forms, with epic poems describing heroic deeds and ballads covering a wider range of subjects. Lays and idylls also qualify as narrative poetry. Narrative poetry is poetry with a plot. The content and rhythmic nature of […]
A personal narrative essay is a nonfiction essay in which the writer shares their experiences through a story. The topic can be anything meaningful to the writer, and the style should resemble prose works of fiction or nonfiction. It should have a beginning, middle, and end that tell a definite story or convey a certain […]
A narrative hook captures an audience’s attention and keeps them engaged in a story. Starting in media res is a popular method, and hooks can also be used within a story to maintain momentum. The purpose is to grab and hold the audience’s attention, as seen in Star Wars’ opening space battle. A narrative hook […]
Second-person narrative is a rare but engaging technique in which the narrator uses “you” instead of “I” or “he/she/they.” It is often used in modern and postmodern literature, and can draw attention to the story. Examples include Choose Your Own Adventure books and works by William Faulkner, Margaret Atwood, and Jay McInerney. A second person […]
Nonlinear storytelling presents events in a story in a different order for artistic effect. This can be achieved by revealing plot episodes in a particular order or allowing readers to choose their own path. Flashbacks are a common technique used to present events from different points in time. Frame stories are circular in nature, with […]
Narrative structure is a framework for telling stories, including buildup, climax, and resolution. The most common structure includes introduction, nascent action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Subplots can complicate structure, and some writers may choose to tell the story in an unordered fashion. In media res starts in the middle of the action, creating a […]
Prose fiction tells a story through actions and is written in a basic language format. It consists of action-driven stories with characters taking part in events, rather than simply narrating them. It is different from poetry, which has its own rules and devices. Prose fiction is a form of writing in which the work is […]
Narrative criticism analyzes literary works, including biblical stories, for characters, settings, and themes. It emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to historical criticism’s limitations. Narrative critics examine major characters and symbolic implications to determine thematic meaning. The movement drew on secular literary criticism, particularly New Criticism, which emphasized close reading of texts. While […]
Slave narratives were popular autobiographies in the 19th century, describing the abuse and conditions of slavery, flight to freedom, and the effect on families. Their goal was to appeal to white audiences and promote abolitionism, often using vivid scenes of violence and religious themes. They also aimed to place African American experiences within the context […]
