Narrative and Literary Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide

Posted on Oct 2, 2024 in Language

Narrative

Definition: A series of events happening to characters in a specific time and place, recounted by a narrator.

Elements of Narrative

  • Action: Events that drive the plot forward in a logical order, causing transformations. A main action is usually supported by secondary actions.
  • Characters: Those who perform the actions. They can be main (central to the narrative) or secondary (supporting the main characters). Characterization can be revealed upfront or gradually. Characters can be classified as types (representing a group) or individuals (with unique traits). They can also be flat (unchanging) or round (evolving).
  • Narrative Time: The time frame and duration of the story’s action, determined by the events.
  • Narrative Space: The location where the action unfolds. It can be fictional or real, urban or rural.

Narrative Techniques

  • Narrator and Narrative Perspective: The voice telling the story. The narrator can be a character within the story (first-person) or external to it (third-person). A first-person narrator can be the protagonist or a witness. A third-person narrator can be an observer (limited to what they see and hear) or omniscient (knowing everything about the characters). The narrator can also address themselves (second-person).
  • Order of Events:
    • Progressive and Linear: Beginning, middle, end.
    • In Medias Res: Knot, approach, outcome.
    • In Extrema Res: Outcome, beginning, middle (flashback).
    • Fragmented and Disjointed: Requires the reader to reconstruct the chronological order.

Literary Procedures

  • Verb tenses: Simple past, imperfect, historical present.
  • Sentence types: Declarative, subordinate clauses (adverbial of place and time).
  • Referential devices: Anaphora, cataphora, dexis.
  • Figurative language.

Non-Literary Storytelling

  • News: Account of a recent event of interest, focusing on what, who, where, when, how, and why. Written objectively.
  • Feature: In-depth news report with added investigation and some subjectivity, including interviews, data, and photos.
  • Chronicle: Blend of information and opinion, expanding on news with commentary.
  • Historical Texts: Accounts of past events using narration, description, and exposition, exploring the causes and context.
  • Journal: Personal record of daily events, feelings, and thoughts, subjective and intimate.

Description

Representing objects, people, animals, and environments through language. Involves observation, reflection, and expression.

Types of Description

  • Technical/Objective: Provides information accurately and systematically, using denotative language, concrete nouns, and specific adjectives.
  • Literary: Creates beauty and evokes emotions, using connotative language, literary devices, and evocative adjectives.

Subjects of Description

  • Realities: Portrait (physical), prosopography (psychological), etopeya (psychological), caricature (distorted), self-portrait.
  • Abstract Realities: Sensations, feelings, emotions.
  • Environments and Landscapes: Topography.
  • Time Periods: Chronography.
  • Processes: Events without duration or action.

Linguistic Procedures

  • Verb tenses: Present, imperfect.
  • Word classes: Nouns, adjectives.
  • Sentence types: Copular.
  • Figurative language.

Exposition

Presenting a topic clearly and objectively for informational purposes. Can be informative (general overview) or specialized (requiring prior knowledge).

Structure

  • Deductive: General to specific.
  • Inductive: Specific to general.

Linguistic Procedures

  • Verb tenses: Present, past.
  • Sentence types: Coordinated, subordinate (adjective clauses), long sentences.
  • Voice: Impersonal, passive, reflexive.

Reasoning

Providing reasons to support or refute a thesis, aiming to persuade.

Elements

  • Thesis: Central idea.
  • Body of Argumentation: Arguments supporting or refuting the thesis, using various techniques (e.g., authority, examples, analogy, majority/minority opinion, experience).
  • Conclusion: Consequence of the thesis.

Linguistic Procedures

  • Vocabulary: Specific terminology.
  • Sentence types: Declarative, exclamatory, interrogative, subordinate, long sentences.
  • Rhetorical devices: Repetition, textual markers.

Dialogue

Reproduction of a conversation between two or more people.

Types of Dialogue

  • Direct Style: Verbatim reproduction.
  • Free Direct Style: Reproduction without introductory phrases or quotation marks.
  • Indirect Style: Reporting what was said.
  • Free Indirect Style: Reflecting the character’s thoughts.

Renaissance

Cultural transformation originating in Italy in the mid-14th century and spreading across Europe. Revival of Greco-Roman culture, emphasizing humanism and leading to advancements in arts, science, and technology.

Poetry

Characterized by mythological themes, bucolic and pastoral settings, and themes of love, nature, and Greco-Roman myths. Common forms include sonnets, tercets, octaves, liras, songs, and ballads.

Garcilaso de la Vega

Known for elegies, eclogues, and sonnets expressing personal feelings and idealized love. Eclogue I explores unrequited love and grief. Eclogue II combines love and praise. Eclogue III depicts nymphs embroidering mythological scenes.