Narrativity

Narrativity describes the qualities that distinguish a narrative from all nonnarratives.

Definition

Narratology is a widely discussed concept given its complexity and sometimes elusive nature. As an over-arching concept, narrativity refers to all those qualities or characteristics applied to narratives that make a narrative a narrative; in other words; without these characteristics, we are left with non-narrative. Thus, narrativity becomes the distinguishing factor between narrative and nonnarrative. Some aspects of narrativity are: a distinguishable narrative voice, setting, plot development, and chronology of events, among others. Characteristics of narrativity apply to both fiction and nonfiction works alike. The set of conventions governing the way a story is told has equal effect on both genres.

Examples

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Critical Debates

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Related Terms

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References

Abbot, H. Porter. The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative.

Keen, Susan. Narrative Form.

Bal, Mieke. Introduction to the Theory of Narrative.