The Main Parts of the Narrative Structure of a Novel
The main parts of the narrative structure of a novel are character, setting, plot, conflict, and resolution.
I will tackle this post from two different angles. I will first explain the meaning of narrative structure. After that, I will point out the various components of narrative structure as well as their meaning in Literature.
Let’s begin with a definition of the term ‘narrative structure’.
What is the meaning of ‘narrative structure’?
In Literature, the term ‘narrative structure’ refers to the organizational framework of a story. Narrative structure is a combination of plot and storyline that makes the narrative smooth and compelling.
Typically, the structural framework of a story includes a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Parts of Narrative Structure: Meaning
Each time you think of the parts of narrative structure, keep in mind that the defining word to note is ‘structure’.
Put differently, when we study the parts of narrative structure, the key question on our minds is, what goes into the construction of the entire story?
For instance, does a narrative begin with a head and end with a tail?. Is there a middle part of a narrative? What are the ingredients that must be added to the storyline to make it effective.
The answers to these questions and similar ones constitute the ‘moving parts’ of narrative structure, so to speak.
It is now clear that narrative structure is an indispensable part of every novel or short story.
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5 Parts of Narrative Structure
There are five major parts of narrative structure. In most cases, they need to be incorporated into the narrative to make it sound and feel like a true literary work.
Here is a description of the top five parts of narrative structure.
1. Character
Character or characterization refers to the people that a writer creates out of his imagination. In most cases, the narrator gives his characters names that they can be easily identified with.
Characters in a narrative, besides their names (for example, Finaba Marah in Pede Hollist’s novel, So the Path Does Not Die), also possess human qualities. Characters in a novel, just like all humans, have physiological and emotional needs.
2. Setting
Another important part of narrative structure is setting.
Setting refers to at least three things in the narrative structure of a novel. These aspects of setting in Literature are place, time, and atmosphere.
Place
Place, as it relates to the setting of a story, is the geographical location within which the action takes place.
Examples are a town, a village, a shop, a bar, a desert, or an office.
Time
A second aspect of setting in Literature is time. The author might choose to set their story in the early morning, evening, or midnight.
They may also choose a particular month, occasion or season of the year.
Atmosphere
This setting of a novel highlights the kind of atmosphere within which certain actions occur. The prevailing mood could be one of agitation, joy, or suspense.
Natural phenomena such as a storm, an earthquake, or a heavy downpour of rain serve the purpose of creating the desired atmosphere in a narrative.
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3. Plot
Plot is one of the most indispensable parts of narrative structure.
So, what is a plot in Literature?
The plot in a novel is a sequence of events that make a complete story. Thus, plot is concerned with the way the writer arranges incidents so that every episode becomes the effect and, at the same time, the cause of another incident.
4. Conflict
Conflict, as an integral part of every novel’s narrative structure, is what makes the plot of a narrative tick. To put it simply, where conflict is absent in a novel, you’re sure to have a rather boring narrative.
As one of the key parts of narrative structure, conflict ensures that there is a reasonable element of suspense and intrigue in every literary work.
Conflict in literature takes many forms. It could be an internal conflict within the protagonist. In such a scenario, you may have a clash of two or more contesting ideas, values, or aspirations in the mind of the protagonist.
On a different level, there are inter-personal conflicts or even conflicts between families and communities.
So, as a character tries to achieve a certain goal, the opposing ideas or situations will make it difficult for him to do so. This is the emerging conflict that generates interest in the storyline.
5. Resolution
In almost every narrative, resolution features prominently as one of the key parts of its narrative structure. Resolution refers to the point at which all conflicts should have been sorted out successfully.
In the situation where the narrative ends with a cliffhanger, not all conflicts will have been resolved. In such cases, there may be a sequel to the novel.
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Final Thoughts
To summarize, the five principal components of narrative structure are character, setting, plot, conflict and resolution. A word of caution here: Do not confuse narrative structure with plot structure. There is a subtle difference between these two.
You can learn more about plot structure and how it differs from narrative structure in a different post here at AOne English College.
What other elements of literature would you like to understand? Please let me know in a comment below.
Finally, I urge you to test your readiness for the upcoming exam by taking part in as many AOEC mock tests and quizzes as possible.
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