Function, Structure and Example of Narrative Text

Narrative text

Social Function: to entertain the readers with the story.

Generic Structure: 1. Orientation
                             2. Complication
                             3. Resolution

Language Features:
1. The use of simple past tense
2. Focus on specific individual participant
3. The use of adverb
4. The use of mental process
5. The use of material process.

Tips:
To make an interesting story, the most important thing is the idea. You'd better make some list of important points for each paragraph. And a good title is not more than five words, no punctuation such as ! ? , . : ; _

Example of  Narrative Text:

REBELLIOUS MALIN KUNDANG

     One day, there lived an old woman with his son who was named Malin. Malin was very spoiled with his mother, nevertheless his mother never scolded him because of the love toward his son was so great. Malin very depended on his mother for everything and liked his mother to pickback him everywhere. This case was because of his father was no longer came back since he started voyage through the sea. And because there was no man who could gain money for living, Malin decided to be a seaman to gain money on a merchant ship. Knowing that Malin would leave his mother, the old woman felt so sad, but she realized that Malin's leaving was the best decision to change the family's fate.

     The day of Malin's leaving had come. And he jumped over the fence of the ship sadly, seeing his mother was still crying. But then the ship went through the ocean. But unfortunately, the ship was stuck by a huge rock and some of the crews fell into an island, and so did Malin. After that he found a daughter of a rich, who was also a merchant. He fell in love with her, and the girl was also same because Malin had a good looking. Then, they decided to marry.

     In a coincidence, Malin, his wife and his crews arrived at a seashore which Malin grew up on it. Shortly after that, the villagers who knew Malin changed into a rich man were surprised and told Malin's mother about that. But when she was coming, Malin pretended not to know her because she was very old and poor. Malin was ashamed about his mother toward his wife. Then the old woman felt so angry because the child that she brought up with her love was rebellious now. Being so angry, she cursed Malin to change into a rock! Magically, this spell was working. Malin's ship had an accident and it was broken into pieces, and Malin turned into a rock while he was asking for forgiveness to his mother. After cursing Malin, his mother felt guilty and cried on her wrinkle face.

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Dear readers, this story is a real folktale from West Sumatra. You can see the rock formed Malin asking for forgiveness, and the pieces of ship is available there, at the seashore of West Sumatra, Indonesia.