Understanding Narratology: Key Terms and Concepts

Narratives shape our understanding of the world. From daily conversations to literature, films, and historical accounts, storytelling is an essential human instinct. But what exactly makes a narrative? Let's break down some fundamental terms in narratology:

Key Terms in Narratology:

Narrative – A description of events or the act of storytelling.

Narratee – The person to whom a story is told (reader or listener).

Narration – The process of telling a story.

Narrator – The one who tells the story.

Narratology – The study of narrative structure.

Narrate – The act of telling a story.

Narratives in Everyday Life

Narratives are not limited to fiction—they exist everywhere. We naturally create cause-and-effect relationships in our daily lives. For example, losing your way and unexpectedly meeting the love of your life gives meaning to an event that may otherwise seem random. This tendency to connect events is part of our instinctive narrative thinking.

Even history follows this pattern. Wars, revolutions, and scientific discoveries are often framed as narratives, helping us make sense of the past. Every nation builds its identity through historical accounts, myths, and legends.

Why Do We Need Narratives?

Narratives help us process the complexity of life. As humans, we seek connections between events, creating a structured understanding of the world. This is why storytelling is fundamental to our perception and communication.

Gérard Genette and Narrative Structure

French theorist Gérard Genette introduced key distinctions in narrative analysis:

Narration – The act of telling a story.

Narrative as text/utterance – The outcome of narration.

Story – The sequence of events within a narrative.

Genette also introduced the concept of narrative discourse, which refers to the way a story is structured and expressed. This explains why the same story can be told differently—such as when a book is adapted into a movie, often with significant changes to fit the medium.

Ultimately, narratives are more than just stories—they are the way we understand and give meaning to our experiences. 

Genette’s Distinction Between Fictional Narrative and History

Gerard Genette distinguishes between fictional narratives and history. While fictional narratives have a certain freedom, historians are not free in the same way. They must rely on sources and remain faithful to them. Based on these sources, they attempt to construct the most convincing story, but they cannot go beyond the given limits.

Writing history also creates binary oppositions, such as "enemy" and "friend." Most historians are not entirely objective because, even when using the same sources, they interpret them differently, ultimately shaping their version of the story.

Fable and Plot

Every narrative has a fable. A fable is the basic story, representing the chronological sequence of events. According to Russian Formalists, it is called fabula, which serves as the foundation for different versions of a story.

Plot, on the other hand, is the structured way in which a story is presented. It is referred to as syuzhet in Russian Formalist theory and includes all the additional elements that shape the narrative.

In short:

Fable (Fabula): What is told? Focuses on content and source.

Plot (Syuzhet): How is it told? Relates to the structure and expression.

The plot can include techniques like flashbacks to rearrange the story. For example, a film adaptation may not follow the exact sequence of events from the book, or a children’s version of a story might eliminate certain elements. This demonstrates that the same story can be told in different ways.