Narrative Nonfiction

Like other forms of nonfiction, narrative nonfiction is based on facts and reality. It involves real people who experienced actual events at some point in history. However, the defining characteristic of narrative nonfiction is that the main objective is not simply to report information but to tell a story. Thus, narrative nonfiction utilizes many of the same literary techniques as fiction does, such as plot, setting, dialogue, and characterization.

Many common forms of narrative nonfiction that you can read today include biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, diaries, personal essays, and literary journalism. In this topic, you were introduced to one of the most famous and celebrated autobiographies of American literature, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Recounting the events of her childhood, this coming-of-age story invites you as the reader to connect to the emotions and experiences of Angelou's life as if you were there with her. The power of narrative nonfiction is that it can tap into the human experience to make a true story feel all the more real.