Narrative Theory

Narrative theory — also called narratology — provides a vocabulary and a set of analytical tools for understanding how stories are told. For A-Level, narrative theory is invaluable because it gives you precise terminology for analysing the narrative techniques that every text employs. Instead of vaguely saying "the writer uses first person," you can analyse focalisation, temporal ordering, and narrative reliability with the precision that examiners reward.

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Gérard Genette: Narrative Discourse (1972)

Genette, a French literary theorist, developed the most influential vocabulary for analysing narrative structure. The three key areas are:

1. Time: Order, Duration, Frequency

Order: How Is the Story Arranged?