Understanding Narrative Conventions: Examples and Types

Every great story follows narrative conventions, such as plot structure and character development, which shape how we engage with the message. This blog explores types of narrative conventions, with examples, and their influence on different genres.

What Are Narrative Conventions?

Examples of character development are setting, point of view, plot, Style, etc. All the characters in the story are in a definite order, and all events in the story take place from the point of view of the narrator in setting the action. The setting of the action, the Style of the narration, and the story subject matter are all included in this.

Why Is Narrative Important?

• The psychology of narrative assumes that any activity of human behavior or experience is full of stories and meaning rather than logic or formulation. It is basically a study of human beings construction of stories to deal with experiences since they influence individual personalities.

• The narrative approach personally suggests the interest of human beings in interpreting their lives in the stories, and these stories help to confess the behaviour by establishing the identity to integrate all the individuals in social life.

• Narratives become any form of identity that the subject chooses to include in any particular story and way of narrating it. This should reflect the shape of the individual, too.

• These narratives contribute to forming personal as well as cultural identity by providing individuals with a true sense of belonging as well as shared values.

• The narratives evoke true emotions, enabling people to connect emotionally to various ideas, concepts, and experiences, which fosters compassion.

• As per narrative conventions, they influence perceptions and beliefs by framing events and issues in very specific ways, affecting how we interpret the world.

• The narratives also provide proper insight into various cultures, perspectives, histories, tolerance, cross-cultural understanding, etc.

• It also helps individuals to make proper sense of their own experiences and challenges by providing a structure for understanding and processing society.

• Narratives are also an integral part of human society, inflicting various aspects of our lives, from personal identity to cultural perception, education, communication, entertainment, etc.

A narrative convention example can be seen when our native expert uniquely explains concepts. They use storytelling techniques to help us better understand the material, creating narratives to simplify complex ideas and make them more relatable.

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What are the 6 Elements of Narrative Conventions?

Narrating means telling a story in the best and retags way. But this task is not very easy. It needs a lot of dedication to craft it in the best possible way with the help of various techniques, and it also needs a lot of practice. The main 6 literary elements of the narrative convention are as follows:

Setting

This is the location and time when your story takes place. These can be quite specific but need to be very descriptive and broad. Here, you always need to create a well-established and good setting to provide a vivid backdrop for the given story environment.

Characters

Any story generally includes a number of characters, each of which has a different purpose or role. A protagonist and an antagonist are made there in any story. These are the central characters, which are very vital for the story’s development. The central plot of the story revolves around them. The protagonist is the story’s main character, who has a particular goal to accomplish and always plays a positive role. The Antagonist is the opposite of a protagonist who stands before the Antagonist against establishing any good purpose.

Plot

The sequence of events that make up the story, typically including the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution

Conflict

This drives your story. It actually creates tension and suspense among readers, making the story more interesting. If there is no conflict, your story will become dull and boring.

Theme

It is the central point of the story. It is the underlying meaning of your story. This can also be your personal opinion on the subject matter of the story. Both major and minor can be present in the story.

Characterization

The creation and development of characters within the story, including the protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters

Above are the six main elements of the story conventions in literature narrative convention.

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What Type of Secondary Narrative Conventions

The Secondary Narrative Conventions are the methods that are used to make an impact through literary content. The following are some common Secondary Narrative Conventions:

Tone

It is the attitude of the author towards any topic. Examples of the tons are fright, sarcastic, bossy, excited or deposed.

Character development

Developing an original and 3-dimensional character with personality, depth, and clear motivation is the procedure. This also refers to character changes that go through a story’s course after certain situations.

Voice

It is the voice by which any story is told. This thing contributes to the tone and mood of any character. This vice mainly helps you to build a good effect on the words they want you to create to impress the readers.

Mood

This refers to the ambience or atmosphere of any writing piece. In simpler terms, it is a type of emotion that the author tries to evoke among the readers. Examples of mood are anxiety, calmness, joy, and anger.

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List of Narrative Conventions with Example

The narrative conventions list is as follows:

• Plot: The next thing that you are going to write is the plot development. Here, you need to decide the basic things regarding the storyline and continue it. Here, you also need to decide the story twist and climax. This part always needs to give your readers a very clear picture of the story.

• Conflict: Various types of conflicts should always be included in your storytelling techniques to keep your readers very engaged in your writing. Examples include conflicts against the, conflicts against oneself, conflicts against nature, etc.

• Characters: After thinking of your storyline, the next step of your narrative conventions in English is deciding on the character. This gives him a wigged to your story and also helps you enhance the story content.

• Setting: In any story narration, you need to start up a lot of things in the initial stage. This is the basis of your storytelling. Here, you need to decide the total time you took to write the whole story. This is very important for it to give a flow to your readers.

• Point of View: The perspective from which the story is told (e.g., first-person, third-person limited, third-person omniscient).

• Language and Theme: This is the final step; here, you need to decide on your main theme and the related language. Examples include core themes, motifs, symbols, etc.

• Flashback: A sequence that provides the audience with a look-back to an event that previously happened, which adds to the storytelling in a way.

• Dialogue: Conversations between two or more individuals that show who the characters are, how they relate to one another, and the story’s central focus.

• Symbolism: A technique in literature in which an object, character, or action represents a broader idea or serves a bigger purpose in the narrative.

• Foreshadowing: Subtle hints or clues are introduced early in the story to anticipate future events or outcomes.

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Example of Characterization of Narrative Conventions in Film

Example: The Lion King (1994) – Simba’s characterization undergoes a significant transformation. As a young cub, he is carefree and somewhat irresponsible, but he matures after his father’s death and exile. The shift in Simba’s behavior and personality, from avoiding responsibility to taking charge, highlights the themes of leadership and personal growth.

In Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, the isolated, stormy Yorkshire moors create a dark, Gothic setting that mirrors the characters’ turbulent emotions and the novel’s themes of love and revenge.

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Examples of Narrative Conventions in Literature and Media

• In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the characters of Scout and Atticus Finch are carefully developed, with Scout’s coming-of-age story and Atticus’s embodiment of justice.
• In the story of Cinderella, the life of Cinderella is the main theme that is developed.
• Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel has a frightening plot setting, which is the main thing.g
• Snow white is the main character of the snow white and Seven Dwarfs story
• In a war story, the conflict between two fighting kinds is the main thing

Key Elements of Narrative Conventions You Should Know

• Plot: The basic theme of your storyline.
• Setting: The background setting of your story
• Characters: These are the individuals involved in your story
• Conflict: it is to be added to make the story interesting
• Climax: This is the final part of your story

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