MATERIAL OF READING COMPREHENSION

What is Narrative Text?

The narrative text is a text that tells about something that is fictitious and only in the form of
essays from the writer only. 

The Purpose of Narrative Text.

The use of the narrative text itself has several purposes, such as entertaining, educating,
telling, conveying the author's experience or as a medium to develop the imagination of the
reader. Examples of narrative text such as folklore, fairy tales, or fables that are legendary
from all parts of the world, although the narrative text is generally imaginative, some
narrative text is also factual.

Social Function Narrative Text

 Its social function is to tell stories or past events and entertain the readers. The social
function of narrative is to amuse, entertain and to deal with an actual or vicarious experience
in different ways.
Generic structure of Narrative Text
1. Orientation / Orientasi
The orientation section contains the opening of the story that contains the introduction of
characters, introduction to the background time and place of the story. Anyway, this section
contains a general part of the story that includes what, who, when, and where the story is told.
2. Complication / Komplikasi
In this section, the main character starts experiencing conflicts in his life and the main
character must resolve the conflicts.
3. Resolution
In this section all the problems must be resolved by the main character.
4. Reorientation
The resolution section is the ending story section. In the reorientation section there is also
usually a moral message or moral value or advice that we can take from the story. The moral
value in the ending of a narrative text is called Coda.

  Language Features
a. Using of simple past tense
b. The first person (I, we) or the third person (he, she, they).
c. Using time conjunction: once upon a time, one day, in far far away.
Kinds of Narrative text:
Myth
A myth is a traditional story that may answer life's overarching questions, such as the
origins of the world (the creation myth) or of a people. A myth can also be an attempt to
explain mysteries, supernatural events, and cultural traditions. Sometimes sacred in nature, a
myth can involve gods or other creatures. It presents reality in dramatic ways.

Many cultures have their own versions of common myths that contain archetypal images and
themes. One common myth that spans multiple cultures is that of a great flood. Myth
criticism is used to analyze these threads in literature. A prominent name in myth criticism is
that of the literary critic, professor, and editor Northrop Frye.

Folklore and Folktale

Whereas myth has at its core the origins of a people and is often sacred, folklore is a
collection of fictional tales about people or animals. Superstitions and unfounded beliefs are
important elements in the folklore tradition. Both myths and folklore were originally
circulated orally.

Folktales describe how the main character copes with the events of everyday life, and the tale
may involve crisis or conflict. These stories may teach people how to cope with life (or
dying) and also have themes common among cultures worldwide. The study of folklore is
called folkloristics. 

Legend
A legend is a story that's purported to be historical in nature but that is without substantiation.
Prominent examples include King Arthur, Blackbeard, and Robin Hood. Where evidence of
historical figures, such as King Richard, actually exists, figures such as King Arthur are
legends due in large part to the many stories that have been created about them.
Legend also refers to anything that inspires a body of stories or anything of lasting
importance or fame. The story is handed down orally but continues to evolve with time.
Much of early literature began as legend told and retold in epic poems that were passed down
orally originally, then at some point written down. These include masterpieces such as the
Greek Homeric Poems ("The Iliad" and "The Odyssey"), circa 800 BCE, to the French
"Chanson de Roland," circa 1100 CE.
Fairy Tale
A fairy tale may involve fairies, giants, dragons, elves, goblins, dwarves, and other fanciful
and fantastic forces. Although originally not written for children, in the most recent century,
many old fairy tales have been "Disneyfied" to be less sinister and to appeal to kids. These
stories have taken on lives of their own. In fact, many classic and contemporary books, such
as "Cinderella," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Snow White," are based on fairy tales. But read
the original Grimm brothers' fairy tales, for example, and you'll be surprised at the endings
and how they differ from the versions that you may have grown up with. 

THE INSTRUMENT OF READING COMPREHENSION ABOUT

NARRATIVE TEXT

FOX AND A CAT

One day, a cat and a fox were having a conversation. The fox, who was a conceited creature,
boasted how clever she was. “Why, I know at least a hundred tricks to get away from our
mutual enemies, the dogs,” she said.

“I know only one trick to get away from dogs,” said the cat. “You should teach me some of
yours!”.

“Well, maybe someday, when I have the time, I may teach you a few of the simpler ones”,
replied the fox airily.

Just then they heard the barking of a pack of dogs in the distance. The barking grew louder
and louder – the dogs were coming in their direction! At once the cat ran to the nearest tree
and climbed into its branches, well out of reach of any dog. “This is the trick I told you about,
the only one I know”, said the cat. “Which one of your hundred tricks are you going to use?”.

The fox sat silently under the tree, wondering which trick she should use. Before she could
make up her mind, the dogs arrived. They fell upon the fox and tore her to pieces.

THE FOX AND THE GRAPES

One afternoon there was a fox that was walking through the forest and spotted a bunch of
grapes hanging from over a lofty branch. “Just the thing to quench my thirst,” quoted the fox.
Taking a few steps backward, the fox jumped but unfortunately he missed the hanging
grapes. Again the fox took a few paces backward, ran, and tried to reach them but he still
failed.

Finally, giving up, the fox turned up his nose and said, “They’re probably sour anyway,” and
proceeded to walk away.

 
 THE ANT AND THE DOVE

One hot day, an ant was seeking for some water. After walking around for a moment, she
came to a spring. To reach the spring, she had to climb up a blade of grass. While making her
way up, she slipped and fell unintentionally into the water.

She could have sunk if a dove up a nearby tree had not seen her. Seeing that the ant was in
trouble, the dove quickly put off a leaf from a tree and dropped it immediately into the water
near the struggling ant. Then the ant moved towards the leaf and climbed up there. Soon it
carried her safely to dry ground.

Not long after at that, there was a hunter nearby who was throwing out his net towards the
dove, hoping to trap it in this way.

Guessing what he should do, the ant quickly bit him on the heel. Feeling the pain, the hunter
dropped his net and the dove flew away quickly from this net.
 THE LEGEND OF SURABAYA

A long time ago, there were two animals, Sura and Baya. Sura was the name of a shark and
Baya was a crocodile. They lived in a sea.

Once Sura and Baya were looking for some food. Suddenly, Baya saw a goat “Yummy, this
is my lunch,” said Baya. “No way! This is my lunch. You are greedy” said Sura. Then they
fought for the goat. After several hours, they were very tired.

Feeling tired of fighting, they lived in the different places. Sura lived in the water and Baya
lived in the land. The border was the beach, so they would never fight again.

One day, Sura went to the land and looked for some food in the river. He was very hungry
and there was not much food in the sea. Baya was very angry when he knew that Sura broke
the promise. They fought again.

They both hit each other. Sura bit Baya’s tail. Baya did the same thing to Sura. He bit very
hard until Sura finally gave up and went back to the sea. Baya was happy.
 THE STORY OF TOBA LAKE

Once upon a time, there was a man who was living in north Sumatra. He lived in a simple hut
in a farming field. The did some gardening and fishing for his daily life.

One day, while the man was do fishing, he caught a big golden fish in his trap. It was the
biggest catch which he ever had in his life. Surprisingly, this fish turned into a beautiful
princess. He felt in love with her and proposed her to be his wife. She said; “Yes, but you
have to promise not to tell anyone about the secret that I was once a fish, otherwise there will
be a huge disaster”. The man made the deal and they got married, lived happily and had a
daughter.

Few years later, this daughter would help bringing lunch to her father out in the fields. One
day, his daughter was so hungry and she ate his father’s lunch. Unfortunately, he found out
and got furious, and shouted; “You damned daughter of a fish”. The daughter ran home and
asked her mother. The mother started crying, felt sad that her husband had broken his
promise.

Then she told her daughter to run up the hills because a huge disaster was about to come.
When her daughter left, she prayed. Soon there was a big earthquake followed by non-stop
pouring rain. The whole area got flooded and became Toba Lake. She turned into a fish again
and the man became the island of Samosir.
 MALIN KUNDANG

A long time ago, in a small village near the beach in West Sumatra, a woman and her son
lived. They were Malin Kundang and her mother. Her mother was a single parent because
Malin Kundang’s father had passed away when he was a baby. Malin Kundang had to live
hard with his mother.

Malin Kundang was a healthy, dilligent, and strong boy. He usually went to sea to catch fish.
After getting fish he would bring it to his mother, or sold the caught fish in the town.

One day, when Malin Kundang was sailing, he saw a merchant’s ship which was being raided
by a small band of pirates. He helped the merchant. With his brave and power, Malin
Kundang defeated the pirates. The merchant was so happy and thanked to him. In return the
merchant asked Malin Kundang to sail with him. To get a better life, Malin Kundang agreed.
He left his mother alone.

Many years later, Malin Kundang became wealthy. He had a huge ship and was helped by
many ship crews loading trading goods. Perfectly he had a beautiful wife too. When he was
sailing his trading journey, his ship landed on a beach near a small village. The villagers
recognized him. The news ran fast in the town; “Malin Kundang has become rich and now he
is here”.

An old woman ran to the beach to meet the new rich merchant. She was Malin Kundang’s
mother. She wanted to hug him, released her sadness of being lonely after so long time.
Unfortunately, when the mother came, Malin Kundang who was in front of his well-dressed
wife and his ship crews denied meeting that old lonely woman. For three times her mother
begged Malin Kundang and for three times he yelled at her. At last Malin Kundang said to
her “Enough, old woman! I have never had a mother like you, a dirty and ugly woman!”
After that he ordered his crews to set sail. He would leave the old mother again, but in that
time, she was full of both sadness and angriness.

Finally, enraged, she cursed Malin Kundang that he would turn into a stone if he didn’t
apologize. Malin Kundang just laughed and really set sail.
In the quiet sea, suddenly a thunderstorm came. His huge ship was wrecked and it was too
late for Malin Kundang to apologize. He was thrown by the wave out of his ship. He fell on a
small island. It was really too late for him to avoid his curse. Suddenly, he turned into a stone.

SNOW WHITE

One day, there was a queen sitting near a very beautiful window while tailoring and
seeing the snow. Accidentally, her finger was pierced by a sewing needle so that three drops
of blood dripped out. The drops of blood fell down on the snow. The red color of the blood
which was stuck in the white of the snow looked very pretty. Suddenly the queen thought “If
only i had a child whose skin were as white as snow and whose lips were as red as blood”
As the time went by, finally a queen gave birth of a very pretty princess whose skin
was as white as snow and whose lips were as red as blood. The queen grew up as a very
pretty and kind-hearted girl. She was called Snow White. However, when Snow White was
about teenager, the queen died because of an illness. After the queen’s death, the king
married again.  This new queen was wicked and hated Snow white.  The queen gave orders
that Snow White was to be treated as a servant.
Everyday the queen stood in front of her magic mirror while asking “Who is the most
beautiful woman in the land?” and the mirror always answered, “You are the most beautiful
one of all.” The new queen asked the same question everyday and the mirror always
answered the same thing. But one day the mirror answered that the queen was so beautiful
but Snow White was much more beautiful than the queen. It made the queen so angry that she
gave orders to one of her Huntsmen to take Snow White into the woods and kill her.
The Huntsman had such a kind heart that he couldn’t do the deed. He told her to run
away.  In her fleeing into the woods, she found a place in which seven dwarfs lived.  Their
house was small and strange. Snow White entered the little house and found it very untidy.
Then, she started to clean up the entire house. In the upstairs she found seven little beds.  She
was so exhausted that she stretched out on one of the beds. Not long after that, she was asleep
on the bed.
When the Dwarfs came home they were surprised to find Snow White and after some
argument, decided to let her stay.  She promised to cook and look after them. She lived there
together happily.
Unfortunately, The Queen discovered the place where Snow White was living and
disguising herself as a witch. She then took a poisoned apple and set out for the Dwarfs
cottage.  She gave Snow White the poisoned apple to eat and as soon as she bit the apple, she
sank into unconsciousness.
Thinking she was dead, the Dwarfs built a glass coffin and put her in it. For days she
lay in the forest in her glass coffin.  One day, the Prince was riding through the forest looking
for Snow White and found her.  He leaned over and kissed her. She opened her eyes and sat
up with a smile. Everyone was happy at that time.  The Prince took Snow White to his palace
where they were married and lived happily ever after.
 

TIMUN EMAS

Timun Emas
Long time ago in the island of Java, Indonesia, lived a couple of farmer. They had married for
some years but they had no children. So they prayed to a monster called Buta Ijo to give them
children. Buta Ijo was a ferocious and powerful monster. He granted their wish on one
condition. When their children had grown up, they had to sacrifice them to Buta Ijo. He liked
eating fresh meat of human being. The farmers agreed to his condition. Several months later
the wife was pregnant.

She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. They named her Timun Emas. The farmers were
happy. Timun Emas was very healthy and a very smart girl. She was also very diligent. When
she was a teenager Buta Ijo came to their house. Timun Emas was frightened so she ran away
to hide. The farmers then told Buta Ijo that Timun Emas was still a child. They asked him to
postpone. Buta Ijo agreed. He promised to come again. The following year Buta Ijo came
again. But again and again their parents said that Timun Emas was still a child.

When the third time Buta Ijo came their parents had prepared something for him. They gave
Timun Emas several bamboo needles, seeds of cucumber, dressing and salt.

‘Timun, take these things’

‘What are these things?’

‘These are your weapons. Buta Ijo will chase you. He will eat you alive. So run as fast as you
can. And if he will catch you spread this to the ground. Now go!’

Timun Emas was scared so she ran as quickly as she could. When Buta Ijo arrived she was
far from home. He was very angry when he realized that his prey had left. So he ran to chase
her. He had a sharp nose so he knew what direction his prey ran.

Timun Emas was just a girl while Buta Ijo was a monster so he could easily catch her up.
When he was just several steps behind Timun Emas quickly spread the seeds of cucumber. In
seconds they turned into many vines of cucumber. The exhausted Buta Ijo was very thirsty so
he grabbed and ate them. When Buta Ijo was busy eating cucumber Timun Emas could run
away.

But soon Buta Ijo realized and started running again. When he was just several steps behind
Timun Emas threw her bamboo needles. Soon they turned into dense bamboo trees. Buta Ijo
found it hard to pass. It took him some time to break the dense bamboo forest. Meanwhile
Timun Emas could run farther.

Buta Ijo chased her again. When he almost catch her again and again Timun Emas threw her
dressing. This time it turned into a lake. Buta Ijo was busy to save himself so Timun Emas
ran way. But Buta Ijo could overcome it and continued chasing her.

Finally when Timun Emas was almost caught she threw her salt. Soon the land where Buta
Ijo stood turned into ocean. Buta Ijo was drowned and died instantly. Timun Emas was
thankful to god and came back to her home.
 PINOCCHIO

In the past, there was a puppeteer whose name is Geppetto. He eager to have a son very much
but his wife passed away several years ago. One day, he got an idea to make a puppet in order
not to be lonely again. He made a puppet all day long. Finally, in the morning he had finished
his work and he named the puppet Pinocchio. Soon he felt lonely again since Pinocchio
couldn’t walk or talk by itself. One night, Geppetto prayed to the God to become a real boy.
He always thought it on his mind in his dream.

In the next morning, he was surprised that Pinocchio was alive. He taught Pinocchio how to
walk, how to read, how to speak and to do other things as human. He then studied at an
elementary school. One day, Pinocchio felt bored and it made him go home late. When
Pinocchio finally came home, Geppetto asked him. He said that he was on school but he
wasn’t. Instantly, Pinocchio’s nose grew longer and longer and it meant that Pinocchio has
lied.

The next morning, Pinocchio was kidnaped by the owner of circus. Pinocchio soon became a
slave for the circus. He was so famous because he was a puppet which can talk. Geppetto
worried about him because Pinocchio had not been going home for almost two days. He tried
to find Pinocchio everywhere but he found nothing. When he searched him on the sea, big
wave smashed him. He was then in whale’s stomach when he awoke. He couldn’t find the
way to go out.
In the other side, Pinocchio finally could escape out from the circus. He came home but
nobody was there. Latter on, he searched Geppetto in the sea. He got the same accident like
Geppetto and he met Geppetto in whale’s stomach. Both of them got out from its stomach by
making a fire. In the end of the story, they went home together and lived happily ever after.

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

When he was awakened by a tiny Mouse running across his body, a mighty Lion was
sleeping in his lair. The lion then grabbed the frightened mouse with his huge paws and
opened his mouth to swallow him directly. “Please, King,” begged the Mouse, “Spare me this
time and of course I will never forget your kindness. Someday I may be able to repay you.
“The Lion thought that it was such an amusing idea that he let the poor creature go.

Sometimes later the Lion was caught in a net laid by some hunters. Despite his great strength,
the Lion could not break free. Soon the forest echoed with angry load roars.

The Little Mouse heard the Lion and ran to see what was wrong. As soon as he succeeded to
make the Lion free “There!” said the Mouse proudly, ” You laughed at me when I promised
to repay your kindness, but now you know that even a tiny Mouse can help a mighty Lion.”