Narrativity
Narrativity describes the qualities that distinguish a narrative from all nonnarratives.
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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
- {give examples of the term in action}
Critical Debates
- {is the term contested, challenged, defined differently, etc.?}
Related Terms
- {list any terms that are related or usefully connected to this term or concept (e.g., list story under the definition of discourse)}
References
Abbot, H. Porter. The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative.
Keen, Susan. Narrative Form.
Bal, Mieke. Introduction to the Theory of Narrative.