Narration Flashcards

Narration

Relates a sequence of events linked in time

Stages leading to a result

Result is new knowledge or a notable outcome

Narrative time

Narrative time is not real time

Point of the narrative (Take-Away Idea)

Determines the selection of events

Straight Chronological Order

Relates events in the sequence of their actual occurrence

Use of Straight Chronological Order

Most common

Final event first

Self-realization followed by explanation of events that led up to it

Summary first

Entire story summarized first then examined in detail

Flashback

Shift backward rather than forward in time

Point of view

Position relative to events

Pronouns

Indicate storyteller’s presence in the story

First-person

Narrator is a direct participant in the story

Third-person

Narrator is observing the events

Verb tense

Narrator’s relation in time to the sequence of events

Past tense

Narration relates events from the past

Present tense

Narration relates events as if happening now

First-person + present tense

Creates great immediacy

Third-person + past tense

Creates distance and objectivity (potentially)