Definition of Narrative Text
Narrative Text is one of 13 types of English text (genre) born from narration
as well as Recount Text, Anecdote Text, Spoof Text. Then, the definition of
narrative text is an imaginative story to entertain people
Perhaps you need to know that narrative text, in the writing and composition
lecture is usually called narration, which is one of type of text in a literary
language. Usually, the narrative text contains good fiction stories, non-fiction
stories, animal stories (fable), folktales, fairy tales, myths, legends etc. In a
simple word everything about story is included in narrative text.
Generic Structure of Narrative Text
# Orientation : It is about the opening paragraph where the characters of the
story are introduced.
# Complication : Where the problems in the story developed.
# Resolution : Where the problems in the story is solved.
# Coda / reorientation (optional) – lesson from the story
Purpose of Narrative Text
The Purpose of Narrative Text is to amuse or to entertain the reader with a
story.
Language Feature of Narrative Text
Past tense (killed, drunk, etc.)
Adverb of time (Once upon a time, one day, etc.)
Time conjunction (when, then, suddenly, etc.)
Specific character. The character of the story is specific, not general.
(Cinderella, Snow White, Alibaba, etc.)
Action verbs. A verb that shows an action. (killed, dug, walked, etc.)
Direct speech. It is to make the story lively. (Snow White said, ”My name
is Snow White”).
The direct speech uses present tense.
Kinds of Narrative Text
Fable
Folktales
fairy tales
myth
legend
Example of Narrative Text – Androcles
Androcles
A slave named Androcles once escaped from his master and fled to the forest.
As he was wandering about there he came upon a Lion lying down moaning
and groaning. At first he turned to flee, but finding that the Lion did not
pursue him, he turned back and went up to him. As he came near, the Lion put
out his paw, which was all swollen and bleeding, and Androcles found that a
huge thorn had got into it, and was causing all the pain. He pulled out the
thorn and bound up the paw of the Lion, who was soon able to rise and lick
the hand of Androcles like a dog. Then the Lion took Androcles to his cave,
and every day used to bring him meat from which to live.
But shortly afterwards both Androcles and the Lion were captured, and the
slave was sentenced to be thrown to the Lion, after the latter had been kept
without food for several days. The Emperor and all his Court came to see the
spectacle, and Androcles was led out into the middle of the arena. Soon the
Lion was let loose from his den, and rushed bounding and roaring towards his
victim. But as soon as he came near to Androcles he recognized his friend,
and fawned upon him, and licked his hands like a friendly dog.
The Emperor, surprised at this, summoned Androcles to him, who told him
the whole story. Whereupon the slave was pardoned and freed, and the Lion
let loose to his native forest.
Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.
Terjemahan

Androcles

Pada suatu hari seorang budak bernama Androcles melarikan diri dari
majikannya menuju hutan belantara. Saat sedang berjalan-jalan di hutan, dia
bertemu dengan seekor singa yang sedang mengerang kesakitan. Karena
terkejut, Androcles segera melarikan diri, tetapi ternyata singa tersebut tidak
mengejarnya. Androcles penasaran ingin tahu apa yang terjadi dengan singa
tersebut. Saat dia mendekat, sang singa menunjukkan kakinya yang bengkak
dan berdarah. Ternyata, ada sebuah duri besar yang menusuk kaki sang singa.
Androcles segera mencabut duri tersebut, lalu membalut kaki sang singa.
Tidak lama kemudian Sang singa kembali dapat berjalan. Sang singa sangat
senang, dia menjilati Androcles sebagai rasa terima kasihnya. Sang singa
mengajak Androcles ke tempat tinggalnya di gua. Setiap hari Sang singa
membawakan daging segar untuk Androcles.

Pada suatu hari pasukan kerajaan dikirim untuk mencari budak-budak yang
melarikan diri. Pasukan tersebut berhasil menemukan Androcles dan
membawa Androcles serta Sang singa ke kerajaan. Karena melarikan diri
Androcles akan diberi hukuman bertarung dengan seekor singa yang telah
berhari-hari tidak diberi makan.

Pada hari yang ditentukan, raja dan para pembesar kerajaan datang ke arena
untuk menonton pertarungan antara Androcles dan Singa. Androcles segera
dibawa menuju tengah arena. Kemudian Sang singa yang lapar dilepaskan
dari sangkarnya ke dalam arena. Sang singa segera berlari dan mengaum
menuju calon korbannya. Tetapi setelah dekat, Sang singa mengenali ternyata
itu adalah Androcles, sahabatnya. Sang singa mengibas-ngibaskan ekornya
dan menjilati Androcles.

Sang Raja terkejut, lalu memanggil Androcles dan memintanya menceritakan

kisahnya dengan Sang singa. Selanjutnya budak itu (Androcles) diberi maaf
dan dibebaskan , sedangkan Sang singa kembali dilepaskan ke hutan.

Terima kasih adalah tanda hati yang mulia