narrative

/'nærətiv/
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narrative

A teacher reads a narrative story to a circle of children.

Definition
  1. Noun:

    • A spoken or written account of connected events; a story: A "narrative" is a structured representation of a sequence of events, real or imagined, often presented in a specific order to convey meaning or experience.
    • The practice or art of telling stories: "Narrative" can also refer to the genre or method of storytelling itself.
  2. Adjective:

    • In the form of or concerned with telling a story: Describes something that has the qualities of a story or is presented as a connected series of events.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:

    • The novel presents a compelling narrative about survival.
    • His personal narrative of the journey was both moving and insightful.
    • The documentary weaves together multiple narratives from different witnesses.
  • Adjective:

    • She excels in narrative poetry, which tells a complete story.
    • The film uses a non-linear narrative structure to build suspense.
Advanced Usage
  • Master narrative / Grand narrative: A broad, overarching story or ideology that is widely accepted in a culture or society.

    • The master narrative of progress has been challenged by modern historians.
  • Narrative arc: The overarching structure and progression of a story, typically including exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution.

    • The character's transformation follows a classic narrative arc.
  • To control the narrative: To influence how a story or sequence of events is perceived by others.

    • The politician worked hard to control the narrative after the scandal.
Variants and Related Words
  • Narrate (verb): To tell a story or give an account of events.

    • She was asked to narrate her experiences.
  • Narrator (noun): The person or voice that tells a story.

    • The novel's narrator is an unreliable witness to the events.
  • Narration (noun): The act or process of narrating; the commentary in a film or documentary.

    • His calm narration made the documentary very engaging.
Synonyms
  • Story: An account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment.
  • Tale: A fictitious or true narrative or story, especially one that is imaginatively recounted.
  • Account: A report or description of an event or experience.
Antonyms
  • Fact: A thing that is known or proved to be true. (Contrasts with the often constructed or interpreted nature of a narrative.)
  • List: A simple series of items or facts without a connecting story or interpretation.
Related Phrases and Concepts
  • Narrative voice: The perspective from which a story is told (e.g., first-person, third-person).

    • The choice of narrative voice profoundly affects how readers perceive the characters.
  • Counter-narrative: A narrative that challenges or offers an alternative to a dominant narrative.

    • The book provides a powerful counter-narrative to the official history.
narrative

A teacher reads a narrative story to a circle of children.

Adjective
  1. consisting of or characterized by the telling of a story
    • narrative poetry
Noun
  1. a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
    • his narrative was interesting
    • Disney's stories entertain adults as well as children