Analysis of Narrative Text Structure and Elements

Understanding Narrative Texts

A narrative text is a type of writing that includes both real and imagined events.

Narrative Pacing and Sequences

A narrative story presents different paces according to the sequence-chaining procedures used:

• Condensation: Events are presented in a condensed way, often resorting to narrative ellipsis.
• Expansion: The story is delayed or even paused to include additional elements to the action, such as descriptions.

External and Internal Structure

In a narrative, we distinguish between the external structure (chapters, parts, treatises) and the internal structure.

The Narrator and Point of View

Third-Person Narrator

• Omniscient (all-knowing): Omniscience supports different degrees of involvement; at times, it includes speeches and comments by the narrator or appeals to the reader.
• Narrator Observer: Only reports what can be seen. In a similar way to a film camera, the narrator shows what they see.

First-Person Narrator

• Protagonist Narrator: The narrator is also the hero (real or fictional autobiography).
• Minor Character Narrator: The narrator is a witness who has seen the development of the facts. Sometimes there are several witnesses (multiperspectivism, kaleidoscopic view).

Second-Person Narrator

It involves a splitting of the ego. The narrator creates the effect of telling the story to themselves or an ego split.

Time in Narratives

• External or Historical Time: The period or era when the narrative is situated. It may be explicit or inferred from the atmosphere, characters, customs, etc.
• Time of Procedure (Internal Time): This is the timeframe of the events recounted in the story. It can span a lifetime or several days. The author selects the interesting moments and bypasses (ellipsis) those considered unnecessary.

Narrative Space

Space refers to the physical, geographical, or psychological environment where the story takes place.

The Narrative Receiver

The consideration of the receiver in the communication process is important, as we must distinguish between two types of receptors:

The Recipient: The reader for whom the author intended their work. This is an external receiver who determines the text creation process, since the creator has a specific audience in mind.

Narratee: A particular subject or community to whom the narrator explicitly identifies and tells the story. It is an internal receiver within the story, a narrative device that personalizes the tale.