A narrative can be a story or a story.
Narration , from the Latin narratio , is a term that has three main uses. First of all, it is about the action and effect of narrating (telling or telling a story , whether true or fictitious).
A narrative is, on the other hand, a story or a novel : "The last narrative of the acclaimed Canadian author takes place in the 17th century," "The jury highlighted the dynamic and agile nature of the narrative that won the most important prize of the contest" .
In rhetoric , finally, narration is one of the three parts into which speech can be divided. Rhetorical narration refers to facts to clarify a particular issue and to enable the achievement of the speaker's purposes.
Narration as a story
At a general level, it can be said that a narrative always presents, at least, one actor ( character ) who experiences a certain event. It is worth mentioning that it is not essential that said character be the narrator of the story.
Short narratives, like the story , share a plot structure that includes an introduction (where the topic to be discussed is presented), a middle (moment in which the main conflict is displayed) and an outcome (the resolution of the conflict).
Oral narration allows content to be transmitted.
The anachronism
The narrator is in charge of deciding the order and rhythm of the narrative. It can appeal, therefore, to anachronism (also known as anachrony ), a modification of the order of events in time . This resource, which allows the structure of a story to be altered according to the will of the person telling it, can occur through:
* analepsis : consists of the narration of past events, whether prior to the point at which the story is located or prior to the beginning of the story. It is worth mentioning that the duration of this jump in time can be small ( flashback ) or considerable ( racconto );
* prolepsis : anticipating future events, also with variable duration and depth, distinguishing between a brief jump (known as flashforward ) and an extensive and more detailed narrative (called premonition).
It is important to clarify that in both cases we must return to the main timeline, given that both analepsis and prolepsis are resources that the narrator chooses for a better or more adequate exposition of the events that make up the story, and not to alter their course. The excessive use of this narrative tool can result in confusing the reader, causing them to lose interest in the work, due to not feeling able to follow or understand it.
Storytelling genres
Two of the most popular genres within narrative are the short story and the novel . They are similar in that they both use narration to shape a story. And they basically differ in the effect each one wants to have on the reader.
One of the fundamental elements of the novel is time, which allows the author to expand comfortably, in great detail. Almost on the contrary, when writing a story, it is essential to make efficient use of the time available, to achieve a concise work that at the same time offers a rich and satisfying experience to the reader.
In a story, the narration is intense and provokes instantaneous and abrupt sensations , which end when the reader finishes reading. The novel gives rise to a more intimate relationship between the writer and the reader; It offers a more stable experience and demands more loyalty from the reader, with whom it creates a permanent bond, accompanying them and generating changes in their life over time, mixing reality with fiction in an intense and, often, revealing way. .