1. Narrative structures
Structure types
One structure type is open. This is when a story will never reach a conclusion
and continues indefinitely. An example of this of would be a soap opera like
Eastenders. During the show although individual stories do end the story as a
whole never ends and continues to develop. The alternative to this style would
be a closed structure. This is when a story finishes with a conclusion tying all the
loose ends together. My story has a closed structure as it finishes with what the
ultimate goal is which is all the fish living together. This is good for a children’s
book because most kids like the story to come to an ending so that it is clear
what happens.
Another type of structure is single strand. This is when a narrative has a single
story running through it and only that one is told. This is commonly seen in
children’s books/films so that it isn’t overly complicated for them to understand.
An alternative to this would be a multi-strand story that has numerous story
lines running through it at once. This is commonly used in a soap opera, as there
are many characters stories that often over link each other. My story is a single
strand story as there is only ever one story line happening throughout the book,
which is the fish building their homes and then the shark trying to defeat them.
Linear narratives are another structure in which the story flows from one step to
another. This is common in journalistic writing as it is telling a story where the
events must be in order. The opposite of this style is non-linear. This is when
flashbacks or forwards are used to recall events at give the story more
excitement. This style is commonly seen in movies such a Memento that is about
a man attempting to figure out his wife’s murder case whilst suffering from
amnesia. For my story I stuck to a linear structure as I didn’t want to over
complicate the story and no flashbacks or forwards were needed to tell the
events that took place.
Finally, a story that’s has a linear structure reflects
on real life events that have happened or are likely to happen. This is often seen
in a soap opera as many events that happen, such as car accidents and affairs, do
take place. The opposite of this structure would be an anti-realistic narrative.
This is when events are highly unlikely/ impossible to happen. My story is
realistic because fish do settle in certain areas of the sea such as sand or seaweed
and sharks do attempt to eat fish on a daily basis.
Narrative components
During my narrative I used a variety of components, the first being that it has a
opening. This is where the story has a clear beginning which helps to story begin
and se the scene. I also used the component of conflict, which is where characters
within in the story has conflict with another character. This is clearly shown in
my story between the shark and the three little fish. Finally another component
that I used was resolution. This is where all the bad is overcome and the story
ends with all the problems solved. Again in my book this is shown very clearly as
all the fish get there wish to live with each other and that shark never returns.
Other good components to include, but I didn’t, are enigma, which is when you
2. are kept on the edge of your seat by clues given out through the story with the
final scenes being the mystery solved. This is common in detective stories such
as DCI Banks. Another component that is good to use is manipulation of time/
space as it gives the story more excitement and more in depth. I choice not to use
this as is can sometime become overly complicated and I didn’t want that for a
children’s book.
