2. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
Is your narrative linear or non-linear?
• A linear narrative is where the story line goes straight through from
beginning to end but in chronological order. This means there is no
flashbacks or flash-forwards involved.
• A non-linear narrative is where the story doesn’t follow a chronological
structure therefore uses time jumps and changes in time throughout
telling the story.
• My story, ‘Rapunzel’, is an example of a linear narrative. This is
because the events that happen are all told chronologically page by
page. Many children’s stories use this narrative as it’s a lot easier for
kids to read and understand.
• A example of a non-linear narrative would be in the film ‘Once Upon a
Time in America’ (1984) where it uses flashbacks to show the story of
Jewish Hoods in Manhattan in the 1920’s, 30’s and 60’s.
3. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
Is it an open or a closed narrative?
• An open narrative is where the story doesn’t reach a conclusion and
could be continued for as long as wanted or necessary. It has no
foreseeable ending.
• A closed narrative is where the story comes to an end with a definite
ending or resolution to the story.
• My story uses closed narrative as it has a clear ending. It can’t really
be carried on in any way so therefore comes to a conclusion of what
has happened.
• An example of an open narrative structure is used in Soap Operas
such as ‘Hollyoaks’ or ‘Eastenders’ where an episode finishes and is
continued the next day/week; almost as if it’s in real time.
4. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
Does it have single or multiple strands?
• A single strand narrative is where only one story line is included.
Children’s books generally have one as it’s more manageable.
• A multi-strand narrative has a number of significant story lines, usually
linked in with a main one. Most of the time, the story lines are about
the characters and show their lives and give information about them.
• The children’s story I have looked at shows a single strand narrative
as it only follows one structure and doesn’t really give much more
information about the characters than it needs to.
• Soap Operas again are an example of multi-strand narrative as they
all have different stories about particular characters which all link into
one main story line.
5. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
Is it a realist or anti-realist narrative?
• Realist narratives is when something reflects on real life and what
happens in it. It focuses on believable events and doesn’t over
exaggerate things.
• Anti-realist narrative uses and includes highly unlikely events,
characters and locations.
• ‘Rapunzel’ falls under the anti-realist narratives because although the
story line isn’t impossible, getting locked up in a tower and saved by a
prince is highly unlikely to happen to someone in real life.
• An example of something which shows a realist narrative structure is
6. NARRATIVE COMPONENTS
• OPENING – This is the start of my book. Openings are very important as they set the scene
for the story as well as introducing most, if not all, of the characters.
• CONFLICT – In most cases, conflict is what helps the story to move forward and add
excitement. My book shows an example of this as towards the middle we establish that the
witch is bad because of the conflict between her and the other characters, gradually
becoming worse by the end.
• RESOLUTION – The resolution is the ending of the story. For my story line, the ending is
positive. This is suitable for a children’s story, as it shows the evil character losing everything
and the likable characters not seeing her again.
• ENIGMA – An enigma is a puzzle that is linked in with the story. It is usually included to keep
the reader interested and makes them feel involved with the book. My story doesn’t include
an enigma as I feel it would make it too confusing for the audience it is aimed at.
• CLIMAX – This is the point in the book which changes the characters fate. In my story, this
point is where the witch is pushed to the ground and never seen again. Changing the fate of
the main character Rapunzel and the prince as they could then live happily together.
• MANIPULATION OF TIME AND SPACE – Manipulation is where you might jump forwards or
backwards in time as well as stretching out or condensing it. The story I have done doesn’t
include much of this however at the end it jumps forward to show what’s happened to the
prince and Rapunzel.
