Introduction

Relevance of the Theme

Understanding textual typology and, more specifically, narrative practices is essential for any in-depth study of language. Narratives are the basis of a universe of stories that influence our lives daily - through books, movies, series, and even tales and anecdotes told by people close to us. Mastering the art of narrating is, therefore, giving the student the ability to express themselves in a richer and more captivating way.

Contextualization

Narratives are one of the three main textual typologies - along with description and dissertation - and are often addressed in the 6th year of elementary school. This division is part of the Brazilian curriculum due to the importance of these textual structures in all areas of study. The student's success in later stages of their education will largely be based on their ability to understand and produce these types of texts. By exploring narrative practices, we are therefore building a solid foundation for the development of students' reading, writing, and textual interpretation skills.

Theoretical Development

Components

• Narrator: It is the voice that tells the story. We can have three types of narrators: the first-person narrator (when the story is told by a character who participates in it), the third-person narrator (who tells the story by observing the characters from the outside) and the omniscient narrator (who knows everything about the story and the characters).

• Characters: They are the figures who live the story. They can be real, imaginary, animals, objects, and even concepts. They are the ones who interact, feel, and perform actions, making the narrative interesting and dynamic.

• Time: Refers to the duration of the events in the narration. It can be chronological (order of events as they occurred), psychological (perception of time by the characters), and historical (moment in which the story takes place).

• Space: Where the story develops. It can be real or imaginary, and its description is essential for the reader to visualize it.

Key Terms

• Fables and Tales: Two of the main literary genres that use narrative practices. Fables are short narratives, usually with animals as characters, and an explicit moral lesson. Tales, on the other hand, can have various characters, settings, and plots, and may or may not present a moral.

• Plot: The set of actions, events, and circumstances that make up the story. It is the essence of the narrative, as it motivates the reader's curiosity and keeps them involved in reading.

• Point of view: Refers to the perspective from which the story is told. It can be the narrator's point of view or a character's, and it influences the interpretation of events by the reader.

Examples and Cases

• First-Person Narrator: In a tale with the theme "My vacation at the beach", the narrator is the character himself. He tells his experiences, sensations, and perceptions. Uses pronouns like "I" and "my" to refer to his actions and emotions.

• Third-Person Narrator: In a fable about "The cicada and the ant", the narrator is outside the story, observing the characters. Uses pronouns like "he", "she", and "they" to refer to the characters.

• Omniscient Narrator: In a suspense tale, the narrator knows everything about the story and the characters. For example, he can anticipate future events, reveal characters' secrets, or describe their emotions. This type of narrator can be objective (does not emit opinions) or subjective (emits opinions and feelings).

• Characters: In a narration about "A trip to the Moon", the characters can be astronauts, aliens, or even inanimate, like the spaceship itself.

• Time: In the narration of "My last birthday party", the time can be counted from the beginning to the end of the party preparation, or it can be described according to the emotion experienced by the character, which can distort the chronological order of events.

• Space: In a story about "The world of dinosaurs", the space can be prehistoric Earth, a natural history museum, or even a child's imagination.

Detailed Summary

Relevant Points:

• The importance of narrative practices is a crucial point. Students learned that narrative is one of the oldest and most universal forms of expression, present in various cultures around the world and in various media, from literature and cinema to advertising.

• The identification of the components of narrative practices: characters, space, time, and narrator. Each of these elements plays a vital role in the construction and understanding of a story.

• The diversity of narrators: The first-person, third-person, and omniscient narrators are seen and analyzed, so that students understand that the narrator's position influences how the story is told and how the characters are presented.

• Difference between fables and tales: Both are literary genres that often use narrative practices, but have distinct characteristics. Fables, for example, tend to have an explicit moral purpose, while tales tend to be longer and more complex narratives.

• The concept of plot and point of view: Two essential elements that help direct the story and influence the reader's or viewer's experience.

Conclusions:

• Narrative practices are a vital tool for creative expression and effective communication in all areas of life, from presenting an argument to storytelling to entertain or teach.

• Understanding the various components and types of narrators is fundamental for the interpretation and production of narrative texts. This allows students to delve into the complexity of stories and understand how different perspectives can influence the narrative.

• Fables and tales are excellent examples of how narrative practices are used. Through the study of these genres, students are exposed to a variety of narrative styles, characters, and plots.

• The analysis of time and space in the context of narrative practices provides students with a new lens to understand how events are constructed and organized in a story.

Exercises:

1. Identification of Components: Given a short narrative text, ask students to identify the essential components, such as the narrator, characters, time, and space.
2. Comparison of Narrators: Provide three versions of the same tale, each with a different type of narrator. Students should read the different versions and discuss how the tale is presented differently in each one.
3. Creation of Narratives: Ask students to create their own short narratives, experimenting with different types of narrators and exploring the importance of components like characters, time, and space.