narrat

narrat is a term used in some strands of narrative theory to designate the abstract function of narration—the system by which a story is told. It refers to the discourse layer that organizes telling, ordering, and presentation, separate from the contents of the plot or the vocal character who tells the story. The term is not standard across the discipline; many scholars analyze narration through terms such as narrator, narration, focalization, or narratee. When narrat is used, it is usually defined as a structural function rather than a specific voice. It can be employed to discuss how narrative authority is constructed, how information is distributed, and how the tellership can shift across scenes or voices.

In practice, narrat is most helpful in analyses of complex or experimental narratives where multiple telling strategies coexist. It can assist in distinguishing the mechanics of telling from the events told, or from the perspective of characters within the world of the story. Critics note that because narrat lacks a single, standardized definition, its use can vary by author, which may lead to terminological confusion.

See also: narratology, narrator, narration, focalization, narratee, point of view.