narrative

A narrative is the representation of a sequence of events through time, typically involving characters and a setting, offered by a narrator. It can be fictional or factual, and may be delivered through oral, written, or visual media. The narrative is the way events are presented, while the story is the actual sequence of events.

Core elements include a narrator or narrating voice, point of view (first person, second person, third person), characters, plot, setting, and themes. The narrator's reliability and perspective shape how the story is perceived. Narrative voice can be formal, informal, ironic, or intimate.

Narrative structure often follows a sequence such as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, though many narratives use non-linear or episodic arrangements. Techniques include flashbacks, foreshadowing, framing devices, and stream of consciousness.

Types and genres include fictional narratives (novels, short stories, screenplays) and non-fictional narratives (memoirs, biographies, journalism, documentary storytelling). Narratives appear across media, including literature, film, theater, and digital content, and may be embedded within larger texts (frame narratives) or presented as standalone works.

Functions: to entertain, explain, persuade, preserve memory, and explore human experience. Narratives also reflect cultural values, identities, and power relations, and are central to fields such as narratology, literary theory, and media studies.