Narrative Structure
Discover how stories are built using orientation, complication, resolution, and coda to engage readers from start to finish.
The Four Parts of a Narrative
Every good story follows a structure. Understanding this structure helps you both read stories more deeply and write your own exciting narratives.
Orientation
The beginning of the story. It introduces:
- • Who — the characters
- • Where — the setting
- • When — the time
Complication
The problem or challenge that creates tension. It is the most exciting part because:
- • Something goes wrong
- • A conflict or obstacle appears
- • The reader wonders what will happen next
Resolution
How the problem is solved. The resolution shows:
- • The character overcomes the challenge
- • The conflict is settled
- • Tension begins to ease
Coda
The ending reflection. The coda often:
- • Shares a lesson or moral
- • Shows how the character has changed
- • Connects the story back to real life
The Story Mountain
A story mountain is a visual way to see how tension rises and falls through a narrative. The complication is the peak where tension is highest.
Top Tip: Build the Tension!
Great writers do not rush to the resolution. They slow down during the complication, adding detail and suspense so readers are desperate to know what happens next.
Annotated Story Example
Read this short narrative and notice how each part of the structure is used.
Last summer, twelve-year-old Mia and her younger brother Liam went camping with their family near a quiet river in the Blue Mountains. The air smelled of eucalyptus and the kookaburras sang as the sun set.
On the second morning, Liam wandered off to explore while Mia was reading. When she looked up, he was gone. Mia called his name, but only the wind answered. Her heart pounded as she searched the bushland, following a narrow track that led deeper into the forest.
After twenty anxious minutes, Mia heard giggling behind a large boulder. There was Liam, watching a family of wombats digging a burrow. She grabbed his hand and led him back to camp, relieved beyond words.
From that day on, Mia never let Liam out of her sight when they were in the bush. She learnt that being a big sister meant being responsible, even on holidays.
Key Vocabulary
Orientation
The opening of a narrative that introduces the characters, setting, and time.
Complication
The problem or conflict that drives the story and creates tension for the reader.
Resolution
The part of the story where the problem is solved or the conflict is settled.
Coda
A closing reflection that shares a lesson learned or shows how the character has changed.
Worked Examples
See how to identify narrative structure in different stories.
Example 1: Identifying the Orientation
Passage: "On a frosty morning in July, ten-year-old Sam walked to school through the quiet streets of Hobart."
Analysis: This is the orientation. It tells us who (Sam), when (a frosty July morning), and where (streets of Hobart).
Example 2: Spotting the Complication
Passage: "Suddenly, the bridge ahead began to creak and sway. Planks of wood snapped off and tumbled into the rushing water below."
Analysis: This is the complication. The bridge breaking creates danger and tension. The reader wonders how the character will get across safely.
Example 3: Finding the Coda
Passage: "As she walked home that evening, Priya smiled to herself. She had learnt that courage is not about never feeling afraid — it is about acting even when you are."
Analysis: This is the coda. It reflects on the events and shares the lesson the character learned about courage.
Knowledge Check
Test your understanding of narrative structure. Select the correct answer and click "Check Answer".
Question 1
Which part of a narrative introduces the characters and setting?
Question 2
What is the purpose of the complication in a story?
Question 3
Read this passage: "Exhausted but triumphant, Jake climbed out of the cave and into the sunlight. He had found the lost map." Which part of the narrative is this?
Question 4
What does a coda typically include?
Question 5
On a story mountain, where is the tension at its highest?
Key Concepts Summary
- ● A narrative has four main parts: orientation, complication, resolution, and coda.
- ● The orientation introduces who, where, and when. The complication creates the problem.
- ● The resolution shows how the problem is solved. The coda reflects on what was learnt.
- ● A story mountain shows how tension rises during the complication and falls during the resolution.
- ● Great writers build tension slowly and use detail to keep the reader hooked.