Narrative writing essay recap 08122023

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4

What do remember about narrative essay writing?

Short story

1. Plot 
   
2. Setting 
   
3. Characters 
   
4. Theme
   

Characters

• Protagonist - main character/we're rooting for him/her
  
• Antagonist - "bad guy"
  
• Secondary character(s)
  

1. Exposition

Exposition is a literary device that introduces key background information to the reader. This might include anything from a character’s backstory to a description of the setting

1. Exposition

This hobbit was a very well-to-do hobbit, and his name was Baggins. The Bagginses had lived in the neighbourhood of The Hill for time out of mind, and people considered them very respectable, not only because most of them were rich, but also because they never had any adventures or did anything unexpected: you could tell what a Baggins would say on any question without the bother of asking him.

 - JRR Tolkien, The Hobbit (explaining Bilbo Baggins’ background)

Expositions are important because..

1. They help the reader figure out the ending.
2. They leave details that are clues to the story’s lesson.
3. They are more interesting.
4. They help the reader understand the story’s events.

Expositions are composed of..

1. Setting and conflict.
2. Time, place, and climax.
3. Setting and characters.
4. Characters and conflict.

2. Inciting incident 

The inciting incident is the narrative event that launches the main action. It typically occurs within the first act of the story and means something significant for the main character, most likely impacting their entire life. It should also fully engage the reader with the story, serving as an indicator of what’s to come.

2. Inciting incident 

Example: 

 Hagrid telling Harry he’s a wizard.

"Harry — yer a wizard." "A what?" gasped Harry. "A wizard, o' course," said Hagrid, sitting back down on the sofa, which groaned and sank even lower, "an' a thumpin' good'un, I'd say, once yeh've been trained up a bit.”

— Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, p. 39

3. Rising action

 A series of events that complicates matters for your characters, and results in increased drama or suspense.

3. Rising action

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the first book in J.K. Rowling's acclaimed book series. In chapter four, the inciting incident occurs when Harry learns he’s a wizard and that he’s wanted at Hogwarts. Everything from chapter five through chapter 16 is the rising action leading up to the climax where Harry discovers that Professor Quirrel/Voldemort is the one trying to steal the Sorcerer’s stone.

What is the rising action in a story?

1. A part of the climax
2. A plot twist
3. The introduction of the main character
4. The part of the plot that creates obstacles that stand in the way of the protagonist achieving his goal

4. Climax

The big showdown where your characters encounter their opposition, and either win or lose.

In a tragedy, the climax will generally reveal the protagonist’s greatest weaknesses, and the situation will go irreparably wrong. In a comedy, events will have been bad for the protagonist up until the climax, which will usually reveal the protagonist’s inner strength, thus leading to a happy ending.

4. Climax

Simba seeks revenge for the murder of his father, and looks to claim his place as the king of Pride Rock. To do this, he must defeat Scar. This leads to a brilliant showdown between the two. Both sides land blows on each other, but Simba emerges victorious and ascends to the throne. 

Which of the following statements is the best climax definition?

1. The point of highest tension in a story.
2. The conclusion of a work of literature in which the conflict is resolved.
3. The introduction of characters, setting, and conflict in a narrative.

5. Falling action

Falling action occurs right after the climax, when the main problem of the story resolves. Falling action wraps up the narrative, resolves its loose ends, and leads toward the closure.

5. Falling action

In Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the falling action occurs after the fight at the Beast's castle and after the Beast becomes human. He realizes Belle has saved him with her love, and then all of the other characters who were affected by the enchantment slowly return to their human form.

6. Conclusion

The conclusion is the final solution in literature. Almost all the genres of storytelling make use of conclusion to end a story. Actually, a conclusion is required to wrap up a story, and it comes after the climax. Following a heart-racing and anxiety-triggering climax, resolution gives audiences the opportunity to relax. It brings all disturbing conflicts into order, and helps the central theme of the movie or novel to resonate.

6. Conclusion

In the family movie Home Alone, the protagonist, Kevin McCallister, faces the conflict of being accidently left home alone while his family takes a trip to Paris, France. The conflict becomes increasingly complicated, for Kevin must protect his residence from burglars who are aware of his situation. This conflict is brought to its climax when the burglars make their way into Kevin’s home and fights to protect his residence. The movie’s resolution occurs when the burglars get arrested and Kevin’s family finally makes their way back to their son.

Introduces background

Builds toward point of greatest interest

sets central conflict in motion

Conflict or tension hits the highest point

Point after the climax

Wraps up the story

Exposition

Rising Action

Conclusion

Inciting Incident

Falling action

Climax

Write a short exposition about the following question: The first time you cooked a meal by yourself?

What have your learned about
narrative writing?