Fiction The features of a narrative text Performer - Culture & Literature Marina Spiazzi, Marina Tavella, Margaret Layton © 2012

1. The novel The commonest form of fiction as a genre is the novel. depicts imaginary events and characters. They are representative of real life; is written in prose, rather than verse; is a narrative; has characters, actions and a plot: it involves people who act in a context ruled by chronology, cause-and-effect; involves an investigation of an issue of human significance whose complexity requires a certain length. Performer- Culture&Literature

2. The setting The setting is the place and the time of the story. Place setting can be interior or exterior (D. Defoe, Robinson Crusoe) it deals with the description of the landscape, interiors and objects. Time setting usually refers to the time of the day, the season, the year; social historical factors are also important. Performer- Culture&Literature

a sequence of events always presented in chronological order 3. The story / the plot A narrative text is made up of the story The author can combine these events in different ways using flashbacks, anticipation of events or by omitting details of the story. This sequence of events is the plot. a sequence of events always presented in chronological order Performer- Culture&Literature

4. Narrative modes and the point of view The author chooses the way to tell his story among dialogue; description; narration. These modes are usually interwoven. The point of view is the angle/s from which the scene is described and the story told. It is influenced by the kind of narrator. Performer- Culture&Literature

5. The narrative techniques The first-person narrator employs the I mode, can coincide with the author or a character. The choice of this narrator can have the following functions: to bring the reader close to the mind and feelings of the narrator; to convey an impression of reality; to restrict the reader’s view. Performer- Culture&Literature

5. The narrative techniques The third-person narrator knows everything about the actions and the characters’ thoughts and intentions; is also called omniscient. obtrusive when he addresses the reader directly making personal remarks or providing a comment on the society of the time, on some of the characters of the story unobtrusive when he is detached and objective and does not interfere with the story Performer- Culture&Literature

6. The characters The presentation of a character can be: direct, through the description which the writer makes of his/her personality and appearance; indirect, when the reader has to infer the features of the character from his/her actions, reactions and behaviour. There can be major and minor characters depending on their role in the story. Performer- Culture&Literature

6. The characters CHARACTERS can be round, when they change their personality as the narration develops and can even influence the plot flat, when they do not change throughout the story. They are the so-called stereotypes Performer- Culture&Literature

is the ideas the author tries to convey by means of the story 7. The theme The THEME is the ideas the author tries to convey by means of the story contains the message whose interpretation leads to an understanding of the meaning of the text Performer- Culture&Literature