Narrative Text

Wah, balik lagi nih kemateri kita waktu semester 1. Masih ingat ma narrative text? I hope yes.


Narrative text is a text which contains a story (fiction/non fiction/tales/folktales/ fables/myths/epic) and in its plot consists of climax of the story (complication) then followed by the resolution.
The purpose of narrative text is to amuse or entertain the readers with actual or imaginary experiences in difference ways. Narratives always deal with some problems which lead to the climax and then turn into a solution to the problem.
Generic Structures:
• Orientation (who were involved in the story, when and where)
• Complication (a problem arises followed by other problem)
• Resolution (solution to the problem)

Language features:
• The use of noun phrases (a beautiful princess, a huge temple)
• The use of connectives (first, before that, then, finally)
• The use of adverbial phrases of time and place (in the garden, two days ago)
• The use of simple past tense (he walked away from the village)
• The use o action verbs (walk, sleep, wake up)
• The use of saying verbs (tell, say, ask)
• The use of thinking verbs, feeling verbs, verbs of senses (she felt hungry, she thought she was clever, she smelt something burning)

Example of narrative text

The Snow Bride

Many years ago, when great forests still covered the hills of Japan, a samurai named Hikaru lost his way in a sudden winter storm. Snow pellets sharp as spears pierced his cloak and drove him blindly into the deep woods.
Cold stalked him, and he had no weapon to battle this invisible enemy. Finally his horse burst into a clearing. The wind rattled the tree limbs, but no snow fell here. A wooden house squatted beside a huge camphor tree. The snow was a smooth white carpet. This quiet place seemed peaceful enough, but he sensed someone watching, waiting in silence.
A door opened. A white-haired woman studied him. Holding out her arms, she murmured, “Welcome, my lord. Enter and feel no fear.”
Hikaru smiled. He had killed fear long ago. But his horse ran away from the tiny hut. The samurai pulled the reins and drove it forward until the horse reluctantly moved forward.
He found a lean-to built on the side of the hut, sheltered on one side by the hut and on the other by the tree. When his mount discovered some hay, its hunger drove out all fear. He left the animal peacefully grazing and went to fi nd his hostess.
The hut was simply furnished, though fi relight created a golden sparkle off the dishes and cups she set before him. Where had this woman found such luxuries, he wondered as she silently served him.
After he had eaten, he fi xed his eyes on her. “Who are you?”
She kept her gaze modestly lowered. “I am called Yuki, my lord. This place is my home.”
Yuki glided around the room in a silken whisper. Gradually he became aware of how quiet the woods had become. “Are you not lonely here?”
Her lips quirked in a shadow of a smile. “You are here, my lord. As long as you are pleased with me, how could I be lonely?”
Time passed, but it was always winter. Hikaru forgot everything but the lovely woman who anticipated his wants. As soon as he thought, “I want – “ Yuki was there, offering food and drink to fill his belly or song to soothe his soul. Yet men are never content. For a warrior, even an earthly paradise can become a wicked prison.
One day, Hikaru woke with anger. Nothing Yuki said or did pleased him. Dashing dishes off the table, the tiny crashes echoed how he’d destroyed his enemies in
the past. The memory infl amed his temper. Enough of this quiet and inaction! He could find that in death.
“My lord, tell me how I have displeased you. I – ”
“You, woman!” he snapped. “You’ve kept me prisoner in this place far too long!”
He rushed to the door and fl ung it open. A cold breeze brushed his cheek. Yuki grasped his sleeve. “My lord! Do not leave!”
“Enough!” The samurai jerked from her grip. Rage boiled in his heart as he backhanded her. “Out of my way, woman!”
“As you wish.” The mark of his hand seemed a dark bruise on her pale skin. “I will bother you no more.” Head bowed, Yuki stepped aside. The door swung shut between them.
A low moan shuddered amongst the trees. Wind whipped his helm from his head and his cloak off his shoulders. Cold knifed his body, just beneath the heart.
“Yuki?” Blinded, Hikaru stumbled backwards, but tree bark scraped his questing hands.
Where was the hut? It was cold, so cold.
Spring came late that year. Birdsong welcomed the sun’s return. The golden fingers of the Goddess Amateratsu caressed the still alabaster face of the sleeping man. But he never wakened.
As she continued her journey across the sky, cherry trees covered the silken clad form with tiny pink-edged petals, a living blanket of snow.

Adapted from: http://mariannh.com