NARRATIVE TEXT

Narrative adalah cerita khayal yang bertujuan menghibur pembaca. Tentu yang namanya cerita khayal itu ya belum tentu keberannya karena bisa jadi itu hanyalah imaginasi atau cerita fiktif yang dibuat oleh seseorang atau cerita buatan sekelompok masyarakat yang tida terbukti kebenarannya. Contoh narrative yaitu, Cinderella, Sangkurian, Snow White, Rabbit and Crocodile, dsb. Untuk penjelasan lebih rinci silahkan baca penjelasan berikut.

1.     Definition of Narrative Text

A narrative text is an imaginative story to entertain people (teks narasi adalah cerita imaginatif yang bertujuan menghibur orang).

2.     Generic Structure of Narrative Text

·       Orientation : It is about the opening paragraph where the characters of the story are introduced.(berisi pengenalan tokoh, tempat dan waktu terjadinya cerita (siapa atau apa, kapan dan dimana)

·       Complication : Where the problems in the story developed. (Permasalahan muncul / mulai terjadi dan berkembang)

·       Resolution : Where the problems in the story is solved. Masalah selesai, secara baik “happy ending” ataupun buruk “bad ending”.

·       Coda / reorientation (optional) – lesson from the story.

Kadangkala susunan (generic structure) narrative text bisa berisi: Orientation, Complication, Evaluation, Resolution dan Reorientation. Meski “Evaluation” dan “Reorientation” merupakan optional; bisa ditambahkan dan bisa tidak. Evaluation berisi penilaian/evaluasi terhadap jalannya cerita atau konflik. Sedangkan Reorientation berisi penyimpulan isi akhir cerita.

3.     Purpose of Narrative Text

The Purpose of Narrative Text is to amuse or to entertain the reader with a story.

4.     The Characteristics / Language Feature of Narrative Text

·       Past tense (killed, drunk, etc)

·       Adverb of time (Once upun a time, one day, etc)

·       Time conjunction (when, then, suddenly, etc)

·       Specific character. The character of the story is specific, not general. (Cinderella, Snow White, Alibaba, etc)

·       Action verbs. A verb that shows an action. (killed, dug, walked, etc)

·       Direct speech. It is to make the story lively. (Snow White said,”My name is Snow White). The direct speech uses present tense.

5.     Legend (Legenda Rakyat)

What is legend? A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history. Typically, a legend is a short, traditional and historicized narrative performed in a conversational mode. Some define legend as folktale. The examples of legend in narrative text are

§  The legend of Malin Kundang

§  The legend of Surabaya name

§  The legend of Tangkuban Perahu

Contoh Struktur Legenda Rakyat

1.     A legend story from West Sumatra, Indonesia

Narrative Text Malin Kundang

Orientation

Once Upon a time, lived a diligent boy named Malin Kundang. He lived in the seashore with his mother. They were very poor, but they lived quiet and harmonious.

Complication

One day, a big ship closed to the beach near their village. They asked peoples to join work in their ship and went to the cross island. Malin Kundang wanted to join with them because he wanted to improve his family’s life. But his mother didn’t permit him. She worried to Malin. Malin still kept his argument… and finally he sailed with the bigship. Several years later, Malin Kundang succed and he became rich trader. Then, he came to his native village with his beatiful wife, but his wife didn’t know Malin’s real descent. His happy mother quickly approached Malin and brought a plate of village cake, Malin’s Favorite. But Malin didn’t admit that woman as his poor mother, and then he kicked the village cakewhich brought by his mother until scattered. 

Resolution

His mother very broken heart because MAlin rebellious to her, who had growth him. Then, his mother cursed Malin became stone.Suddenly, the bigship which Malin’s had was vacillated by a big storm and all of his crewman tossed aside out. Malin realized that was his fault that rebellious his mother. He bowed down and became a stone.

2.     A Legend from North Sumatera

The Legend of Toba Lake

 

 

Once upon time, there was a handsome man. His name was Batara Guru Sahala. He liked fishing. One day, he caught a fish. He was surprised to find out that the fish could talk. The fish begged him to set it free.

Batara Guru could not bear it. He made the fish free. As soon as it was free, the fish changed into a very beautiful woman. She attracted Batara Guru so much. He felt in love with that fish-woman. The woman wanted to marry with him and said that Batara Guru had to keep the secret which she had been a fish. Batara Guru aggreed and promised that he would never tell anybody about it.

They were married happily. They had two daughters. One day Batara Guru got very angry with his daughter. He could not control his mad. He shouted angrily and got the word of fish to his daugters. The daughters were crying. They found their mother and talked her about it.

The mother was very annoyed. Batara Guru broke his promise. The mother was shouting angrily. Then the earth began to shake. Volcanoes started to erupt. The earth formed a very big hole. People believed that the big hole became a lake. Then this lake is known as Toba lake.

 

a.     ORIENTATION: The first paragraph presents information about the participant of the story. In literary term, the participant is called as character. Orientation commonly introduces information about WHO, WHERE and WHEN.
Once upon time, there was a handsome man. His name was Batara Guru Sahala.

b.     COMPLICATION: Paragraph two explores the niche of the story. That is conflict among the characters of the story. This conflict will involve physical and psychological conflict. The conflict is actually the heart of any narrative text. It will drive the participant to make effort in solving the crisis.
Batara Guru got very angry with his daughter. He could not control his mad.

c.      RESOLUTION: The last paragraph closes the story with solving the crisis. However it can be better or worse.
The mother was shouting angrily. Then the earth began to shake. Volcanoes started to erupt. The earth formed a very big hole.

      Well, that’s all the story of Toba lake. As example of narrative text, the legend should show which one is the orientation, complication, and resolution. These three element are the core structure of any narrative text in English genre.