narratio

Narratio is a term in classical rhetoric for the portion of a persuasive speech or legal argument that narrates the facts of the case. Derived from Latin narro, narratio means 'narration' and typically includes background information, dates, places, and the sequence of events that led to the dispute.

Purpose and function: by laying out the facts impartially, narratio aims to establish a shared understanding between speaker and audience and to make the case intelligible. It sets the scene for assessment of evidence, analysis of causes, and evaluation of claims in the subsequent parts of the argument, such as probatio/confirmatio and refutatio. In medieval and early modern rhetoric, narratio was part of the classic arrangement exordium, narratio, partitio, probatio, refutatio, and peroratio.

Content and style: narratio favors clarity over rhetoric; it can be chronological, descriptive, or evidentiary, but it should avoid overt persuasion within this section. The tone is typically neutral, and the narrator may present competing interpretations while remaining descriptive rather than argumentative.

Usage today: the concept appears in discussions of rhetoric, classical education, and in legal or historical writing where a precise, factual account of events is required before argumentation. The term is primarily used in scholarly contexts rather than in everyday speech.