NARRATIVE TEXT

1. Definition

Narrative text is a text containing about story (fiction / nonfiction / tales / folktales / fables / myths / epic) and its plot comprises of climax of the story (complication) then followed by the resolution.

2.     Social Function

The purpose of narrative text is to amuse, entertain, and engage the reader in an imaginative experience

3.     Generic Structure

a.     Orientation: to introduce the participants and the setting place and time

b.     Evaluation: to evaluate the before condition of story (it is optional)

c.     Complication: to show the problem arises

d.     Resolution: to show the problem is solved

e.     Re-orientation: it is optional

4.     Language Features

a.     Focus on specific participants and individualised participants. For example: Malin Kundang, Snow White.

b.     Use of Material, Behavioral, and Verbal Processes. For example: went, walked (material processes), lived, coughed, smiled (behavioural processes), asked, said (verbal processes).

c.     Use of Relational Processes and Mental Processes. For example: represent, must be, is, to be (relational processes), considered, decided (mental processes).

d.     Use of temporal conjunctions and temporal circumstances.For example: Finally, after that, then, when (temporal conjunction). One day, once upon time (temporal circumstances).

e.     Use of simple past tense For example: They lived in a village.

5.     Example

The Myth of Malin Kundang

 

A long time ago, in a small village near the beach in West Sumatra, a woman and her son lived. They were Malin Kundang and her mother. Her mother was a single parent because Malin Kundang’s father had passed away when he was a baby. Malin Kundang had to live hard with his mother. (ORIENTATION)

Malin Kundang was a healthy, diligent, and strong boy. He usually went to sea to catch fish. After getting fish he would bring it to his mother, or sold the caught fish in the town.

One day, when Malin Kundang was sailing, he saw a merchant’s ship which was being raided by a small band of pirates. He helped the merchant. With his brave and power, Malin Kundang defeated the pirates. The merchant was so happy and thanked to him. In return the merchant asked Malin Kundang to sail with him. To get a better life, Malin Kundang agreed. He left his mother alone. (COMPLICATION)

Many years later, Malin Kundang became wealthy. He had a huge ship and was helped by many ship crews loading trading goods. Perfectly he had a beautiful wife too. When he was sailing his trading journey, his ship landed on a beach near a small village. The villagers recognised him. The news ran fast in the town; “Malin Kundang has become rich and now he is here”. (COMPLICATION)

An old woman ran to the beach to meet the new rich merchant. She was Malin Kundang’s mother. She wanted to hug him, released her sadness of being lonely after so long time. Unfortunately, when the mother came, Malin Kundang who was in front of his well-dressed wife and his ship crews denied meeting that old lonely woman. For three times her mother begged Malin Kundang and for three times he yelled at her. At last Malin Kundang said to her “Enough, old woman! I have never had a mother like you, a dirty and ugly woman!” After that he ordered his crews to set sail. He would leave the old mother again but, in that time, she was full of both sadness and angriness. (COMPLICATION)

Finally, enraged, she cursed Malin Kundang that he would turn into a stone if he didn’t apologise. Malin Kundang just laughed and really set sail. In the quiet sea, suddenly a thunderstorm came. His huge ship was wrecked and it was too late for Malin Kundang to apologise. He was thrown by the wave out of his ship. He fell on a small island. It was really too late for him to avoid his curse. Suddenly, he turned into a stone. (RESOLUTION)