Purpose and Structure of Narrative Writing

The Purpose of Narrative Writing

Narration means the art of storytelling, and the purpose of narrative writing is to tell stories. Any
time you tell a story to a friend or family member about an event or incident in your day, you
engage in a form of narration. In addition, a narrative can be factual or fictional. A factual story is
one that is based on, and tries to be faithful to, actual events as they unfolded in real life. A
fictional story is a made-up, or imagined, story; the writer of a fictional story can create
characters and events as he or she sees fit.
The big distinction between factual and fictional narratives is based on a writer’s purpose. The
writers of factual stories try to recount events as they actually happened.
Narrative writing tries to relay a series of events in an emotionally engaging way. You want your
audience to be moved by your story, which could mean through laughter, sympathy, fear, anger,
and so on. The more clearly you tell your story, the more emotionally engaged your audience is
likely to be.
Major narrative events are most often conveyed in chronological order, the order in which
events unfold from first to last. Stories typically have an introduction, a rising action, a conflict, a
climax, a falling action, and a resolution and these events are typically organized by time.
To create strong details, keep the human senses in mind. You want your reader to be immersed
in the world that you create, so focus on details related to sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch
as you describe people, places, and events in your narrative.
As always, it is important to start with a strong introduction to hook your reader into wanting to
read more. Try opening the essay with an event that is interesting to introduce the story and get
it going. Finally, your conclusion should help resolve the central conflict of the story and impress
upon your reader the ultimate theme of the piece.
List of Adjectives, and Adverbs and for a successful Narrative

Adjectives

Adorable Intrepid

Adventurous Joyful

Acclaimed Jubilant

Accomplished Keen

Acrobatic Kooky

Brave Lanky

Bright Lazy

Brilliant Limp

Composed Luxurious

Concerned Mediocre

Concrete Mellow

Conventional Miserable

Delirious Nocturnal

Demanding Organic

Flustered Ornate

Focused Ordinary

Foolhardy Powerless

Gregarious Practical

Grim Precious

Handsome Puzzled

Handy Questionable

Intelligent Quirky
Adverbs

Angrily Meagerly

Apathetically Methodically

Amusingly Neglectfully

Assertively Normally

Begrudgingly Pointlessly

Blissfully Quickly

Coolly Rapidly

Dutifully Rashly

Eagerly Seriously

Faintly Tactfully

Frivolously Tragically

Greedily Vacantly

Hastily Vividly

Intelligently Weirdly

Kindly Zealously

Lazily
Examples of Figurative Language for a successful Narrative

Simile
Definition of Simile

A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different
things. Unlike a metaphor, a simile draws resemblance with the help of the words “like” or “as.”
Therefore, it is a direct comparison.

We can find simile examples in our daily speech. We often hear comments like, “John is as slow as a
snail.” Snails are notorious for their slow pace, and here the slowness of John is compared to that of a
snail. The use of “as” in the example helps to draw the resemblance. Some more examples of common
similes are given below.

Common Examples of Simile

• Our soldiers are as brave as lions.

• Her cheeks are red like a rose.
• He is as funny as a monkey.
• The water well was as dry as a bone.
• He is as cunning as a fox.

Simile introduces vividness into what we say. Authors and poets utilize simile to convey their sentiments
and thoughts through vivid word pictures.

Short Examples of Simile in Sentences

1. The glow of the tube-light was as bright as sunshine.

2. In winter, when it rained he climbed into bed, and felt as snug as a bug in a rug.
3. At exam time, the high school student was as busy as a bee.
4. The beggar on the road looked as blind as a bat.
5. When the examination finished, the candidate felt as light as a feather.
6. When the teacher entered the class, the 6th-grade students were fighting like cats and dogs.
7. The diplomat said the friendship of the two countries was as deep as an ocean.
8. The desert traveler’s hopes were dashed, as when at last he reached a well, it was as dry as a
bone.
9. His opponent was trying to infuriate him, but he remained as cool as cucumber.
10. The laborer remained busy at work all day long, and slept like a log that night.
11. The audience listened to his spellbinding speech as quietly as mice.
12. The young athlete looked as strong as an ox.
 13. The student moved as fast as lightning after getting permission from the teacher for an early
release.
14. The history paper was as tricky as a labyrinth.
15. The boys in the playing field were feeling as happy as dogs with two tails.

Metaphor
Definition of Metaphor

Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two
things that are unrelated, but which share some common characteristics. In other words, a resemblance
of two contradictory or different objects is made based on a single or some common characteristics.

In simple English, when you portray a person, place, thing, or an action as being something else, even
though it is not actually that “something else,” you are speaking metaphorically. For example,
the phrase, “My brother is the black sheep of the family,” is a metaphor because he is not a sheep, nor is
he black. However, we can use this comparison to describe an association of a black sheep with that
person. A black sheep is an unusual animal, which typically stays away from the herd, and the person
being described shares similar characteristics.

Furthermore, a metaphor develops a comparison that is different from a simile, in that we do not use
“like” or “as” to develop a comparison in a metaphor. It actually makes an implicit or hidden comparison
and not an explicit one.

Common Speech Examples of Metaphors

Most of us think of a metaphor as a device used in songs or poems only, and that it has nothing to do
with our everyday life. In fact, all of us in our routine life speak, write, and think in metaphors. We
cannot avoid them. Metaphors are sometimes constructed through our common language, and they are
called “conventional metaphors.”

For instance, calling a person a “night owl,” or an “early bird,” or saying “life is a journey,” are common
examples of metaphors heard and understood by most of us. Below are some more conventional
metaphors we often hear in our daily lives:

• My brother was boiling mad. (This implies he was too angry.)

• The assignment was a breeze. (This implies that the assignment was not difficult.)
• It is going to be clear skies from now on. (This implies that clear skies are not a threat and life is
going to be without hardships)
• The skies of his future began to darken. (Darkness is a threat; therefore, this implies that the
coming times are going to be hard for him.)
• Her voice is music to his ears. (This implies that her voice makes him feel happy)
• He saw the soul of dust when passing through the dust storm.
• Chaos is the breeding ground of order.
• War is the mother of all battles.
• Her dance is a great poem.
• A new road to freedom passes through this valley of death.
• My conscience is my barometer.
 • His white face shows his concern.
• He married her to have a trophy wife.
• Laughter is the best medicine.
• Words are daggers when spoken in anger.
• His words are pearls of wisdom.

Personification
Definition of Personification

Personification is a figure of speech in which a thing – an idea or an animal – is given human attributes.
The non-human objects are portrayed in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like human
beings. For example, when we say, “The sky weeps,” we are giving the sky the ability to cry, which is a
human quality. Thus, we can say that the sky has been personified in the given sentence.

Common Examples of Personification

1. Look at my car. She is a beauty, isn’t she?

2. The wind whispered through dry grass.
3. The flowers danced in the gentle breeze.
4. Time and tide wait for none.
5. The fire swallowed the entire forest.

We see from the above examples of personification that this literary device helps us relate actions of
inanimate objects to our own emotions.

Short Examples of Personification in Speech

1. The shadow of the moon danced on the lake.

2. There was a heavy thunderstorm, the wind snorted outside, rattling my windowpanes.
3. The flowers were blooming, and the bees kissed them every now and then.
4. The flood raged over the entire village.
5. The tread of time is so ruthless that it tramples even the kings under its feet.
6. It was early morning – I met a cat yawning and stretching in the street.
7. The skyscraper was so tall that it seemed to kiss the sky.
8. The tree was pulled down, and the birds lamented over its dead body.
9. The tall pines in the hilly area fondled the clouds.
10. The long road to his home was a twisting snake, with no visible end.
11. The full moon peeped through partial clouds.
12. His car suffered a severe stroke in the middle of the road, and refused to move forward.
13. The ship danced over the undulating waves of the ocean.
14. When he sat the test, the words and the ideas fled from his mind.
15. When he came out of the house of his deceased friend, everything looked to him to be weeping.
 Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia Definition

Onomatopoeia is defined as a word which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. It creates a sound
effect that mimics the thing described, making the description more expressive and interesting.

For instance, saying, “The gushing stream flows in the forest” is a more meaningful description than just
saying, “The stream flows in the forest.” The reader is drawn to hear the sound of a “gushing stream,”
which makes the expression more effective.

In addition to the sounds they represent, many onomatopoeic words have developed meanings of their
own. For example, the word “whisper” not only represents the wispy or breathy sound of people talking
quietly, but also describes the action of people talking quietly.

Common Examples of Onomatopoeia

• The buzzing bee flew away.

• The sack fell into the river with a splash.
• The books fell on the table with a loud thump.
• He looked at the roaring
• The rustling leaves kept me awake.

The different sounds of animals are also considered as examples of onomatopoeia. You will recognize
the following sounds easily:

• Meow
• Moo
• Neigh
• Tweet
• Oink
• Baa

Groups of Onomatopoeic Words

Onomatopoeic words come in combinations, as they reflect different sounds of a single object. For
example, a group of words reflecting different sounds of water are: plop, splash, gush, sprinkle, drizzle,
and drip.

Similarly, words like growl, giggle, grunt, murmur, blurt, and chatter denote different kinds of
human voice sounds.
Moreover, we can identify a group of words related to different sounds of wind, such as swish, swoosh,
whiff, whoosh, whizz, and whisper.

Oxymoron
Definition of Oxymoron

Oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. The common
oxymoron phrase is a combination of an adjective proceeded by a noun with contrasting meanings, such
as “cruel kindness,” or “living death”.

However, the contrasting words/phrases are not always glued together. The contrasting ideas may be
spaced out in a sentence, such as, “In order to lead, you must walk behind.”

Common Examples of Oxymoron

1. Open secret
2. Tragic comedy
3. Seriously funny
4. Awfully pretty
5. Foolish wisdom
6. Original copies
7. Liquid gas

The above oxymoron examples produce a comical effect. Thus, it is a lot of fun to use them in your
everyday speech.

Short Examples of Oxymoron in Speech

1. There was a love-hate relationship between the two neighboring states.

2. The professor was giving a lecture on virtual reality.
3. Paid volunteers were working for the company.
4. The channel was repeating the old news again and again.
5. The contractor was asked to give the exact estimate of the project.
6. A lot of soldiers have been killed in friendly fire.
7. The doctor was absolutely unsure of the nature of his illness.
8. All the politicians agreed to disagree.
9. There was an employee in the office who was regularly irregular.
10. The hero of the play was so dejected that he was the perfect embodiment of being alone in a
crowd.
11. The heads of state gathered to determine an approximate solution to the crisis.
12. The green pasture surrounded by hills was teeming with a deafening silence.
13. The political scientist was asked to give his unbiased opinion on the current issue.
 14. The CEO of a multinational company said, “We have been awfully lucky to have survived the
disastrous effects of the recent economic recession.”
15. The program was not liked by the people, for a lot of unpopular celebrities were invited.

Hyperbole
Definition of Hyperbole

Hyperbole, derived from a Greek word meaning “over-casting,” is a figure of speech that involves
an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis.

It is a device that we employ in our day-to-day speech. For instance, when you meet a friend after a long
time, you say, “It’s been ages since I last saw you.” You may not have met him for three or four hours, or
a day, but the use of the word “ages” exaggerates this statement to add emphasis to your wait.
Therefore, a hyperbole is an unreal exaggeration to emphasize the real situation. Some other common
Hyperbole examples are given below.

Common Examples of Hyperbole

• My grandmother is as old as the hills.

• Your suitcase weighs a ton!
• She is as heavy as an elephant!
• I am dying of shame.
• I am trying to solve a million issues these days.

It is important not to confuse hyperbole with simile and metaphor. It does make a comparison, like
simile and metaphor. Rather, hyperbole has a humorous effect created by an overstatement. Let us see
some examples from Classical English literature in which hyperbole was used successfully.

Short Examples of Hyperbole

1. A ton of worry was lifted from the beggar’s back when he received the alms.
2. He saw a man as tall a power pole.
3. He saw his childhood friend after ages.
4. The weather was so hot that literally everything was on fire.
5. The boy was dying to get a new school bag.
6. The teacher told his students not to repeat that mistake for the umpteenth time, but to no avail.
7. He was in such a hurry that he drove his car at a bazillion miles per hour.
8. The minister told the guests that the couple’s friendship was deeper than the sea, and sweeter
than honey.
9. The blacksmith’s hand was harder than the rock.
10. Their headmaster was omnipresent, as he seemed to be all around the school all the time.
11. The businessman was so busy that he was attending to a million calls simultaneously.
12. The old man was older than the Himalayas.
13. The mule is able to lift tons of weight uphill.
14. His classmates laughed at him, saying he had a pea-sized brain.
15. John was called the elephant of the class for his clumsiness.