Narrative Techniques

Vaidehi Hariyani

1. Narrative Techniques Prepared by Ms.Vaidehi Hariyani Smt. S.B.Gardi Department of English Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

2. Introduction Narrative Techniques are the methods that authors use to tell their stories . when analyzing a novel, it is important to identify these techniques in order to shed light on the ways in which they function in the story.

3. Types of narrative techniques 1) Point of view 2) Dialogue 3) Shifts in Time 4) Symbolism

4. Point of view Point of view is the perspective from which an author chooses to tell the story First person point of view:- The narrator is a character in the story who directly relates his or her experiences. Second person point of view:- The narrator directly addresses as “you” the reader, sharing what he does, feels and thinks. Third person point of view:- The narrator of the story is not a character within the story but a person who is able to access the feelings and thoughts of all characters .

5. D ialogue Dialogue is another technique that authors use to tell their stories. Dialogue is the direct speech between two characters.

6. Shifts in time 1) Flashback:- When the storyline goes backward to show something that has happened before the main events of the novel. 2) Foreshadowing:- When the narration hints at things that will happen but have not happened yet. 3) Frame story:- A secondary story that is not the main story of the novel but through which the main story is told.

7. S ymbolism Another important narrative technique is symbolism. A symbol is a thing that signifies something else. Symbols in novels are often ambiguous .