What are the narrative methods of novels and what are their functions?

The narrative methods of the novel include direct narration, flashback, insertion and plain narration.

Sequential narration or positive narration: narrate the plot in turn according to the development of time;

Flashback: first explain some later plots or endings, and then go back to describe the ins and outs, causes and effects, and development process;

Interpolation temporarily interrupts the progress of the main plot and inserts related events into the sequence;

Describe two or more things that happen in different places at the same time.

In addition, there are many kinds of supplementary narrative, retrospective narrative, separated narrative and combined narrative.

Extended data

The three elements of the novel: vivid characters, complete stories and specific environmental descriptions.

1, character image

The core of a character is thought and character, and the angle of character description includes positive description and side description. The previous description includes appearance, language, movements, expressions, psychology, etc. Profile description usually reflects the relationship between characters and others or things, also called profile contrast.

When portraying characters, novels can take a real person as a model and synthesize some deeds of others. Any excellent novel always has unforgettable typical characters. People can see and understand many people's faces through these typical artistic mirrors.

2. Story plot

Refers to the whole process of the development and evolution of the events described in the work, and the general structure of the story: (prologue)-beginning-development-climax-ending. The story comes from life, is the refinement of real life, and is more concentrated and representative than real life. Events and contradictions in real life have a beginning and an end, ups and downs, and there is a certain development process, so the plot of the novel also has paragraphs and processes.

This process is generally divided into four parts: beginning, development, climax and ending. Sometimes there are prologue and epilogue. In a work, the arrangement of the plot depends on the author's artistic conception and does not necessarily follow the natural order of events in real life. Sometimes a part can be omitted, and sometimes it can be reversed or staggered.

3. Environmental description

Refers to the environment describing the activities of characters and the background of events. A good novel can always make people feel immersive and empathetic, instead of being as boring as a scientific report. The author can always impress this story firmly in the reader's mind with beautiful writing, vivid description and incredible imagination. Environmental description is divided into natural environment and social environment.

The description of natural environment refers to the description of the time, place, season, climate, flowers, birds, insects and fish of the characters' activities, which plays a role in rendering the story atmosphere, setting off the characters' images, promoting the plot development, suggesting the social environment and deepening the theme of the works; The description of social environment refers to the description of the specific background, place, atmosphere and interpersonal relationship of the characters' activities, and its function is to explain the living environment, social relations and the background of the works.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Novel

Baidu Encyclopedia-Novel Narration