Elements of Narratives

The concept of narrative writing is explored in six chapters that define narrative and explain how its parts relate to the whole and make stories recognizable to readers.

The Australian-accented, hipster narrator focuses on elements of written narratives, specifically fiction. These components include types of characterization; plot structure; tone, mood, and setting; stylistic techniques; diction and language; and themes.

Viewers learn that for a story to be complete and satisfying, the plot structure must include exposition, rising action, climax, falling action/denouement, and resolution. Tone, mood, and setting impact the substance and feeling of a story, and are vital to holding the reader’s interest.

Stylistic techniques may include metaphor, hyperbole, irony, symbolism, and foreshadowing. The section on themes (one of the trickier narrative elements) is especially useful for its discussion of dominant, alternative, and multiple readings of a text.

Throughout the production, the narrator delivers the content from a library, a classroom, and an outdoor park. The definitions and examples he provides for each narrative element alternate with clips of three students modeling each component by acting out simple scenes.

This effective production is a good supplement to the language arts curriculum, especially creative writing.

~Amy Pickett, Ridley High School, Folsom, PA