Explain narrative structure with examples that help readers determine the three basics of narrative structure. Explore the period of stasis, the initial conflict, subsequent conflicts and the story's resolution.
Explore the different types of narratives as shown in different works. Linear structures tell the story from beginning to end, moving through events in chronological order. Multi-narratives tell the story through several points of view to give the reader a wide scope of opinions. Fragmented narratives tell only part of the story, leaving the reader to work out unspoken details. Flashbacks, though a narrative structure in their own right, are rarely used to tell an entire story. Instead, this structure is usually found within another structure to add depth and fuller understanding.
Separate the plot from the story and examine each within the narrative structure. The story's elements include the setting, characters, the characters' personal battles and the impact of the characters' actions. Plot describes elements such as how the first conflict is introduced, how the story leads the characters to face their challenges, and how conflicts are resolved in the denouement.
Identify the story's narrative style. This includes voice, such as first-person narrator, various point-of-view characters or an omniscient narrator. Describe how voice adds to the structure, such as how an omniscient narrator unveils thematic elements through indirect discourse.
Determine the success of the author's narrative structure. Did she leave the story finished or was the reader left hanging? Were conflicts resolved? Did the story feel well-rounded, organized and emotionally satisfying? Was the narrative style effective or would the story have been better presented in a different way?