Understanding Narrative, Description, and Argument in Literary Texts

Narrative in Literary Stories

The narrative recounts events in a time sequence. Literary stories, whether realistic or fantastic, aim for artistic expression. Nonfiction stories, on the other hand, inform. A literary story is an imaginary tale designed for aesthetic enjoyment.

Elements of a Narrative

• Narrator:
  • Third-person omniscient
  • First-person protagonist and witness
• Events: History
• Space-time
• Characters
• Atmosphere
• Order:
  • Hindsight
  • Linear narrative development, outcome
  • Enter and Nudom: Anticipation, beginning, middle, and end
  • Counterpoint: various stories mixed

Account Information in News Reports

News reports contain a title, summary, and sometimes a subtitle with details.

Report Body

The report describes or recounts events. Distinguish between the entry (title, summary) and the body (detailed account). Language resources include verb forms (past), syntactic structures (subordinate clauses), and temporal expressions.

Description in Language

Description uses language to paint with words.

Types of Description

• Scientific description
• Literary description: typically appears within a narrative to describe characters.

The Portrait

• External appearance (prosopography)
• Character or personality (ethopeya)
• Story: plan everything and comic caricature.

The Landscape

Static and dynamic description use language, sensations, nouns, and adjectives. Verb forms (imperfect aspect) and syntactic structures (attribute) are common literary procedures.

Exposure: Presenting Information

Exposure presents information informatively and objectively. It can be general or specialized.

Characteristics of Expository Texts

• Clarity and precision
• Order
• Objectivity

Verbal Linguistic Features

• Forms
• Syntactic Structures
• Lexicon connectors and discourse markers

Structure of Expository Texts

• Deductive structure
• Inductive structure (small to big)

Argument: Convincing and Deterring

Argument seeks to convince or deter through reasons. It confirms an idea by providing arguments or rebuts falsehoods with reasoning.

Persuasion vs. Argument

• Persuade: Appeals to emotions
• Argue: Uses objective reasons

Argumentative Text Structure

• General knowledge
• Arguments
• Arguments of affection
• Emotive arguments of authority
• Proverbs and Sayings