Critical Anthology for OCR AS English Literature
Narrative (form and content)
Montgomery et al. Ways of Reading (p.40)
1. Narratives
According to Montgomery et al, how can we define narratives?
2. Narrative form and narrative content
Read the definitions of narrative form and narrative content and choose the correct definition
(below).
Narrative content:
a) Events in a story.
b) Characters in a story and what happens to them.
c) Both a and b.
Narrative form:
a) How narrative content is formed, e.g. through speaking,
writing or images.
b) Narrating narrative content.
c) Forming a narration.
3. Form order
Read page 41 and fill in the gaps, below:
Form order is the order of _______________ in _______________ (or a story). In the
simplest of narratives, the events occur in _______________ order (i.e. first one thing
happens, then the next, then the next, etc.). Sometimes, these events are presented in a
different way. For example, a story might begin with an important event and the rest of the
narrative might relate what happened _______________ this event. In detective fiction,
_______________ are often used as a device to manipulate form order and content order.
4. Content order
a) Read page 42 and fill in the gaps, below:
The difference between form order and content order is that content order is the order in
which the _______________ of the story actually _______________. The form order is the
way in which the content of the story is _______________ by the narrator through flashbacks,
etc. When the narrator deliberately changes the form order, it might be: to create an
_______________; to create _______________; to help organise our _______________ of
the content of the story; to define a text as _______________; and to _______________
______________ or _______________ _______________ narrative pace.
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Narrative (form and content)
b) Montgomery et al state that in real life, ‘reality is a mess’ (p.44). Therefore, what is the
advantage of selecting and ordering events in literature?
c) On page 45, the final possible kind of mismatch between narrative form and narrative content
is narrative point of view. Fill in the gaps below:
Narrative point of view is important to form order and content order because a point of view
might _______________ (or change) during the narration of the story. We might therefore
become _______________ about the narrative content (i.e. story) because it might
_______________, depending upon the _______________’s point of view.
5. The typicality of characters and events
a) Montgomery et al. state that the narrative content sometimes becomes so stereotyped that the
genre of the narratives requires certain events. Some events are listed below. In the blank
spaces, insert possible genres:
Event
Possible genre(s)
A marriage
A murder
A chase
A disguise uncovered
A false accusation
b) When events become typical of a genre, they move from narrative content to being …? (See
page 46)
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Critical Anthology for OCR AS English Literature
Narrative (form and content)
c) Likewise, characters ‘can be labelled depending on their function in the narrative’ (p.47).
Analyse the function of the following characters from Pride and Prejudice. What do they
symbolise/represent?
Character
Function
Mr Bennet
Mrs Bennet
Jane Bennet
Elizabeth Bennet
Mary Bennet
Kitty Bennet
Lydia Bennet
Mr Collins
Mr Darcy
Miss Georgiana Darcy
Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Anne de Bourgh
Mr Bingley
Miss Caroline Bingley
Mr Wickham
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Narrative (form and content)
Character
Function
Colonel Fitzwilliam
Mr and Mrs Gardiner
Sir William and Lady Lucas
Charlotte Lucas
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Critical Anthology for OCR AS English Literature
Narrative (form and content)
Narrative (form and content – ANSWERS!)
Montgomery et al. Ways of Reading (p.40)
1. Narratives
According to Montgomery et al, how can we define narratives? ‘stories involving a sequence of
narrated events’
2. Narrative form and narrative content
Read the definitions of narrative form and narrative content and choose the correct definition
(below).
Narrative content:
a) Events in a story
b) Characters in a story and what happens to them
c) Both a and b.
Narrative form:
a) How narrative content is formed, e.g. through
speaking, writing or images
b) Narrating narrative content
c) Forming a narration.
3. Form order
Read page 41 and fill in the gaps, below:
Form order is the order of events in narrative (or a story). In the simplest of narratives, the
events occur in chronological order (i.e. first one thing happens, then the next, then the next,
etc.). Sometimes, these events are presented in a different way. For example, a story might
begin with an important event and the rest of the narrative might relate what happened before
this event. In detective fiction, flashbacks are often used as a device to manipulate form order
and content order.
4. Content order
a) Read page 42 and fill in the gaps, below:
The difference between form order and content order is that content order is the order in
which the contents of the story actually happen. The form order is the way in which the
content of the story is manipulated by the narrator through flashbacks, etc. When the narrator
deliberately changes the form order, it might be: to create an enigma; to create suspense; to
help organise our understanding of the content of the story; to define a text as literary; and to
slow down or speed up narrative pace.
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Narrative (form and content)
b) Montgomery et al state that in real life, ‘reality is a mess’ (p.44). Therefore, what is the
advantage of selecting and ordering events in literature? ‘The creation of order, a fitting
together, a making sense, and in general a creation of coherence’
c) On page 45, the final possible kind of mismatch between narrative form and narrative content
is narrative point of view. Fill in the gaps below:
Narrative point of view is important to form order and content order because a point of view
might switch (or change) during the narration of the story. We might therefore become
uncertain about the narrative content (i.e. story) because it might alter, depending upon the
narrator’s point of view.
5. The typicality of characters and events
a) Montgomery et al. state that the narrative content sometimes becomes so stereotyped that the
genre of the narratives requires certain events. Some events are listed below. In the blank
spaces, insert possible genres:
Event
Possible genre(s)
A marriage
A murder
A chase
A disguise uncovered
A false accusation
b) When events become typical of a genre, they move from narrative content to being…? (See
page 46). Narrative form
c) Likewise, characters ‘can be labelled depending on their function in the narrative’ (p.47).
Analyse the function of the following characters from Pride and Prejudice. What do they
symbolise/represent?
Character
Function
Mr Bennet
Uses verbal irony at expense of wife and some daughters. Weak father
because does not save for daughters’ marriages or help to address wife’s
marriage concerns. Because of his attitude, things get out of hand.
Mrs Bennet
Represents what a man might end up with if he marries only for looks!
Her low breeding and lack of sensitivity also repel the suitors she wants
her daughters to marry.
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Narrative (form and content)
Character
Function
Jane Bennet
Beautiful and pleasant, she sees the best in others. Ideal qualities for a
woman in those times.
Elizabeth Bennet
Overcomes prejudice, a theme in the novel. Represents marriage in which
love is important. Refusal of Mr Collins shows that she does not agree
with rational marriage.
Mary Bennet
Bookish – symbolises the folly of too much reading when she has not
experienced much of the world. The opposite of her younger sisters.
Kitty Bennet
The family learn from Lydia’s escapade so, at the end of the novel, Kitty
represents hope that things can change when she is taken in hand.
Lydia Bennet
Represents the dangers that can occur when uneducated, impetuous girls
are not supervised properly.
Mr Collins
His obsequiousness makes him a figure of fun. Through him, we learn not
to automatically defer to those of higher classes. Because of him and the
entailment, the future of the Bennet women is not assured, hence Mrs
Bennet’s desperation to marry them off.
Mr Darcy
Represents pride and class-consciousness which he overcomes.
Miss Georgiana
Darcy
Because of Wickham’s treatment of her, Darcy has a reason to hate
Wickham. Wickham’s elopement with Kitty could have been prevented –
at the risk of dragging Georgiana’s name down. This therefore impacts on
the plot when the elopement takes place. The secret about Wickham and
Georgiana also brings Elizabeth and Darcy closer together.
Lady Catherine de
Bourgh
Epitomises class snobbery. When she warns Elizabeth off Darcy, this
brings them closer together.
Anne de Bourgh
Represents another potential rival for Darcy’s hand in marriage. Same
class as him, therefore serious threat.
Mr Bingley
Family money originated in trade, despite appearances. Represents class
mobility. Easily influenced by Darcy.
Miss Caroline
Bingley
Behaves as if family has had money for generations. Competitor with
Elizabeth for Darcy. Because of her behaviour, Darcy admires Elizabeth
more.
Mr Wickham
His treatment of Georgiana brings Elizabeth and Darcy closer together.
Colonel
Fitzwilliam
A reminder that money is important for marriage. Because of him,
Elizabeth finds out about Darcy splitting up Bingley and Jane.
Mr and Mrs
Gardiner
Very sensible and full of common sense. Through them, Darcy sees that
Elizabeth has some decent, intelligent, nurturing relations.
Sir William and
Lady Lucas
Recently titled, nouveau riche, they represent class mobility.
Charlotte Lucas
Has a pragmatic, rational view of marriage. This contrasts with
Elizabeth’s views.
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