The key elements of a narrative are plot, characterization, setting, theme, point of view, and style (how the writer uses language – figurative language, literary devices, and so on).
Before we go a step further to explain what each of these six elements of narrative writing means, I would like us to establish a clear distinction between ‘elements of a narrative’ on the other hand, and ‘parts of narrative structure’ on the other.
The Difference Between ‘Parts of Narrative Structure’ and ‘Elements of a Narrative’
The truth is these two terms can be confusing. This is because both sound as if they are referring to the same concept. But they are definitely not.
Here comes a simple way I want you to look at ‘parts of narrative structure’ and ‘elements of a narrative’.
Narrative Structure
Narrative structure is the organizational framework of a story. It is about the order and manner in which a writer chooses to present a story to the reader. The decision as to what must go into the beginning, the middle, and the end of a story will, therefore, determine the parts of the narrative structure of a particular story.
Elements of a Narrative
The elements of a narrative on the other hand goes beyond just parts. Yes, the elements will definitely include some parts of the structure but, additionally, there are other required aspects of a good narrative that have very little, if at all, to do with the structure itself.
For example, literary devices are an essential ingredient for a narrative to be compelling and meaningful. However, literary devices are not necessarily a moving part of narrative structure. They are more or less an aspect of style which must be fused with whatever the writer’s preferred structural framework might be.
Plot, on the other hand, apart from being a part of the narrative structure, is also an important element that must be present in a good narrative.
Well, I hope I’ve been able to help you understand the difference between parts of narrative structure and elements of a narrative.
5 Elements of Plot in Literature
Top 5 Parts of Narrative Structure
Shall we now consider the meaning of each of the seven elements of a narrative?
1. Plot
Plot is one of the most important elements of a narrative. Without an underlying storyline or plot, a narrative may not be as interesting as it ought to be.
Plot, in very simple terms, refers to the way the writer arranges incidents in a novel so that every incident becomes the result of a previous one. Thus, plot in literature works on the basis of cause and effect as the story moves through time.
Traditionally, the plot of a narrative moves in the order of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement or resolution.
2. Characterization
Characterization is all about the manner in which the writer is able to bring to life imaginary individuals to play the roles that he wants them to.
Characters in a narrative are, therefore, the people that a writer creates out of his imagination. In most cases, the narrator gives his characters names by which they can be easily identified.
Besides names, characters in a narrative also possess general human qualities such as physiological and emotional needs.
This is not to say, however, that non-human entities such as animals and inanimate objects cannot be characterized. Indeed, some writers go out of their way to transform non-human entities into very interesting characters.
Characterization Techniques
To further the credibility of a character, authors tend to develop some characters into very complex and unpredictable people in the novel. Thus, there are multi-dimensional or round characters.
In some cases, too, a character may be a flat character or mono-dimensional in their attitudes, mannerisms, and idiosyncrasies.
For this element of narrative writing to contribute effectively to the themes and overall plot of the story, every character is made to portray their values, social and economic background among others.
Generally, the reader is able to know a lot about a character through what they say and do, what others say about them, as well as the comments the writer makes about them.
3. Setting
Setting refers to at least three things in the narrative structure of a novel. These aspects of setting in Literature are place, time, and atmosphere.
Place
Every narrative contains incidents, events, or episodes. These incidents, whether major or minor, occur in specific geographical locations.
The place setting of an incident in a narrative could be a big town, city, or village, a natural setting as a mountain, valley, riverside, or farm. It could also be a house, in a market, park, office, church, or school.
In fact, the place or places where events in a narrative occur constitute one of the major elements of narrative writing.
Time
A second aspect of setting in literature is time. It is about references the writer makes to parts of the day such as dawn, morning, afternoon, dusk, or night.
Quite often, novelists love to mention specific times on the clock. So you might read a novel where the writer makes a direct mention of times like 9 a.m., 2 p.m, and so on.
Atmosphere
The setting of a novel also refers to the kind of atmosphere within which certain actions occur. So the action could be set in a situation where the prevailing mood is one of joy or sadness, anger, bitterness, and the like.
4. Theme
It is almost impossible to think of a narrative without a theme. So what is the theme in a narrative?
Theme in Literature refers to the underlying ideas that concern the writer. The theme is the motivation that makes a writer bring his thoughts to life in the form of a book or film. This theme often comes in the form of a central message the writer is trying to put across to his readers.
A novelist, for example, will employ all the other elements of a narrative to develop his theme or themes.
Some of the commonest themes in narratives are the theme of love and the theme of violence. Others are the theme of corruption in high places, and the theme of leadership.
5. Point of View
Point of view in Literature is about the standpoint from which a narrator tells a story. Where a narrator is a passive eyewitness who simply reports the incidents as he sees them, we say that he is a third-person narrator.
A first-person narrative voice is the one whereby the narrator is an active participant in the events as they unfold. This type of point of view tends to present a narrator who, because of his own vested interests, might be subjective and biased. This is why a first-person narrator is usually an unreliable storyteller.
In either case, what matters is that every narrative ought to have a certain point of view.
6. Style (Language, Figurative Language, and Literary Devices)
Finally, style is one of the key elements of a narrative. To produce a compelling story that will pique the imagination of readers, every writer of a literary work tends to add special ‘linguistic effects’ and as much figurative language to the narrative as possible.
Examples of literary devices and figurative language are metaphor, simile, personification, symbolism, irony, flashback, foreshadowing, and a lot more.
SEE ALSO: 35 Narrative Techniques in Literature.
Final thoughts
Always remember this. Your knowledge of the above elements of a narrative will help you to effectively analyze and appreciate a given novel.
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