Deconstructing Narrative

A narrative is a story containing event(s), environment and characters. In a narrative, time relates to events, incidents (or a series of the previous) that can either true or fictitious. It created order by efficiently organizing events chronologically. Although, “everything, in one way or another is significant. It is not so much a matter of art...as in is a matter of structure.”(Barthes 1975) Insignificant portions of time, or inconsequential events may be skipped – as a narratives' primary focus is to work through problems, deliver information, or entertain.

Humanity has a need to impose meaning in time and space making a narrative a universal tool for communication and understanding. A narrative is universally informing. There are many different kinds, occurring at all times globally.

A story is intended to entertain or inform. It is usually a chronological sequence of events containing action, and one or more characters. A story has no particular medium and can be either fiction or non fiction. It is separate from narration, in that it can be conveyed in different ways. A story is conveyed as a narrative discourse.

Narrative discourse describes the the representation of events in a narrative. Discourse itself is both organized and descriptive. It is used to communicate formally by telling or by writing.

In conclusion, a “narrative is the representation of events, consisting of a story and narrative discourse, story is an event or sequence of events...and narrative discourse is those events as represented.”(Abbott 2002)

Works Cited:

Abbott, P. (2002) The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Barthes, R., Duisit, L. (1975) New Literary History. Vol. 6, No 2. Maryland: The John Hopkins University Press.