Narrative Nonfiction
What Is Narrative Nonfiction?
The word narrative comes from the Latin word narrare, which means "to say" or "to tell." The same Latin word has also contributed this English word used frequently in literature: narrator, or the character or voice who tells the story in a literary work. Thus, narrative writing is any kind of writing that tells a story.
If the story is imaginary, then the writing is called narrative fiction. This can include works such as novels or short stories. However, if the story is based on actual events, then the writing is called narrative nonfiction. This can include works such as newspaper articles or books about historical events.
There are many different kinds of narrative nonfiction. In this topic, you will explore some of the most common types, including biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, diaries, personal essays, and literary journalism.
Types of Narrative Nonfiction
When exploring a work of narrative nonfiction, it is helpful to be familiar with the common types of narrative nonfiction, such as biography, autobiography, memoir, diary, personal essay, and literary journalism. In this interactivity, you will examine different types of narrative nonfiction and understand their defining characteristics. Click the player button to get started.
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Literary Elements of Narrative Nonfiction
Although narrative nonfiction is based on true events, it shares many characteristics with literary fiction. These aspects are what make narrative nonfiction stand apart from other types of nonfiction, such as interviews or research papers. In this interactivity, you will explore various types of literary elements that are commonly found in works of narrative nonfiction, including plot, setting, dialogue, and characterization. Click the player button to begin.
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Born Marguarite Annie Johnson, the talented Maya Angelou was a famous novelist, poet, actress, playwright, director, singer, dancer, and civil rights activitist. She is most remembered for her book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the first of a series of seven autobiographies. Published in 1969, Angelou's first autobiography recalls her early childhood through the age of seventeen. During this time, Angelou and her brother, Bailey Jr., spent part of their childhood living with their grandmother, Annie Henderson, in Stamps, Arkansas. Known affectionately as "Momma," Angelou's grandmother served as an exemplary role model of strength and dignity. Beating the odds as a rare yet successful African-American businesswoman, she also provided a degree of protection and stability for Angelou during a tumultuous and vulnerable time.
Life for African-Americans in the South was difficult during the 1930s and 1940s. Angelou experienced the abuses and hardships of racism, violence, poverty, and even single parenting. However, to her advantage, she became a voracious reader of literature at a young age. When she was ten years old, Angelou met an educated and sophisticated woman named Mrs. Flowers, who took Angelou under her wing and initiated her journey of intellectual development and self-discovery.
Access and read Chapter 15 of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. This chapter relates the story of when Angelou first met Mrs. Bertha Flowers, a mentor who would play a pivotal role in helping Angelou to build her self-esteem and pursue a lifelong journey of intellectual growth. At the opening of Chapter 15, Angelou is recovering from a sexual assault that eventually resulted in a man's death. Stricken with guilt and too young to process the tragedy that befell her, Angelou has stopped speaking to everyone except her brother. However, meeting Mrs. Flowers helps Angelou to regain her voice and strengthen her confidence and self-esteem.
Angelou is known for revolutionizing the genres of autobiography and memoir. Her masterful development of themes and unfiltered depictions of Southern life in the early 20th century have earned her praise and numerous accolades. She had an extensive and diverse array of vocabulary words from both Standard English and other dialects of English (not to mention several other world languages), and she chose her words carefully when crafting her literary pieces. You should be aware, however, that Angelou's word choice includes terms that are not commonly accepted today, especially in formal contexts. For example, you will see Angelou use the word Negro several times in Chapter 15, as in "It would be safe to say that she made me proud to be Negro, just by being herself." In your own writing, you must remember to choose your words carefully and use terms that are appropriate according to the context.
As you read this chapter, identify the characteristics of narrative nonfiction that Angelou uses in her autobiography. After reading the chapter, reflect on the people you know in your own life who have served as a mentor or had a lasting influence on you.
Narrative Nonfiction Review
Now that you have explored narrative nonfiction and examined a passage from Maya Angelou's work, it is time to review your knowledge and practice what you have learned. In this non-graded activity, read the set of directions associated with each question and provide your answers. Click the player button to get started.