narrativ

Narrativ, often translated as narrative in English, is a representation of a sequence of events told or conveyed by a narrator. It appears across literature, film, journalism, oral storytelling, and many digital media. In scholarly usage, narrativ refers to both the content—the events and scenes themselves—and the way those events are arranged and presented to an audience.

A narrative typically involves core elements such as plot, which is the organized sequence of events; characters who drive action; a setting that provides time and place; and a point of view or narrative voice that frames the telling. Concepts like focalization, narratorial distance, and discourse relate to how the story is told rather than what happens. The distinction between story (fabula) and narrative (text) is central to narratology, the scholarly study of narrative structure and function.

Narratives vary in form: they can be linear or non-linear, framed or nested in a story-within-a-story, and may employ an unreliable narrator. They can be told privately, publicly, or interactively, as in video games or digital storytelling, where the audience or user can influence progression.

Beyond literature, narratives shape memory, identity and culture; they organize knowledge, justify actions, and persuade audiences. In analysis, researchers study narrative structure, themes, coherence, and the social functions of storytelling, as well as how narrative communicates values and worldviews across different media and communities.

Etymology: the term derives from Latin narrare “to tell” and has entered many languages with related forms such as narrativ or narrative.