Narrative is a
text which tells a story. The function of this text is to entertain the
readers.
Teks
naratif berisi cerita atau dongeng yang fungsinya untuk menghibur para pembaca.
-
Orientation
: telling about characters, time and place of the story.
-
Complication
: the problem (s) arise.
-
Resolution
: the problem (s) resolved. (story ending)
Teks naratif
terdiri dari tiga susunan yaitu orientasi ( menceritakan tentang para karakter,
tempat dan waktu sebuah cerita.); komplikasi ( munculnya masalah) dan resolusi
(terselesaikannya masalah yang merupakan akhir dari sebuah cerita.)
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Past
tense ( a beautiful princess lived
in a palace.)
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Time
connectives and conjunctions (then, before, )
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Adverb
and adverbial phrase ( a long time ago, happily ever after, in the morning)
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Action
verbs (went, kicked, run, slept)
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Saying
verbs ( spoke, told, shouted)
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Adjectives
(noun phrase) ( three little kids, a sharp nose)
In former days there was an old woman, who lived in a hut more
confined than the minds of the ignorant, and more dark than the tombs of
misers. Her companion was a cat, from the mirror of whose imagination the
appearance of bread had never been reflected, nor had she from friends or
strangers ever heard its name. It was enough that she now and then scented a
mouse, or observed the print of its feet on the floor; when, blessed by favouring
stars or benignant fortune, one fell into her claws—
“She became
like a beggar who discovers a treasure of gold; Her cheeks glowed with rapture,
and past grief was consumed by present joy.”
This feast
would last for a week or more; and while enjoying it she was wont to exclaim—
“Am I, O God,
when I contemplate this, in a dream or awake? Am I to experience such
prosperity after such adversity?”
But as the
dwelling of the old woman was in general the mansion of famine to this cat, she
was always complaining, and forming extravagant and fanciful schemes. One day,
when reduced to extreme weakness, she, with much exertion, reached the top of
the hut; when there she observed a cat stalking on the wall of a neighbour’s
house, which, like a fierce tiger, advanced with measured steps, and was so
loaded with flesh that she could hardly raise her feet. The old woman’s friend
was amazed to see one of her own species so fat and sleek, and broke out into
the following exclamation:—
“Your stately
strides have brought you here at last; pray tell me from whence you come? From
whence have you arrived with so lovely an appearance? You look as if from the
banquet of the Khan of Khatai. Where have you acquired such a comeliness? and
how came you by that glorious strength?”
The other
answered, “I am the Sultan’s crumb-eater. Each morning, when they spread the
convivial table, I attend at the palace, and there exhibit my address and
courage. From among the rich meats and wheat-cakes I cull a few choice morsels;
I then retire and pass my time till next day in delightful indolence.”
The old dame’s
cat requested to know what rich meat was, and what taste wheat-cakes had? “As
for me,” she added, in a melancholy tone, “during my life I have neither eaten
nor seen anything but the old woman’s gruel and the flesh of mice.” The other,
smiling, said, “This accounts for the difficulty I find in distinguishing you
from a spider. Your shape and stature is such as must make the whole generation
of cats blush; and we must ever feel ashamed while you carry so miserable an
appearance abroad.
You certainly
have the ears and tail of a cat, But in other respects you are a complete
spider.
Were you to see
the Sultan’s palace, and to smell his delicious viands, most undoubtedly those
withered bones would be restored; you would receive new life; you would come
from behind the curtain of invisibility into the plane of observation—
When the
perfume of his beloved passes over the tomb of a lover, Is it wonderful that
his putrid bones should be re-animated?”
The old woman’s
cat addressed the other in the most supplicating manner: “O my sister!” she
exclaimed, “have I not the sacred claims of a neighbour upon you? are we not
linked in the ties of kindred? What prevents your giving a proof of friendship,
by taking me with you when next you visit the palace? Perhaps from your favour
plenty may flow to me, and from your patronage I may attain dignity and honour.
Withdraw not
from the friendship of the honourable; Abandon not the support of the elect.”
The heart of the
Sultan’s crumb-eater was melted by this pathetic address; she promised her new
friend should accompany her on the next visit to the palace. The latter,
overjoyed, went down immediately from the terrace, and communicated every
particular to the old woman, who addressed her with the following counsel:—
“Be not
deceived, my dearest friend, with the worldly language you have listened to;
abandon not your corner of content, for the cup of the covetous is only to be
filled by the dust of the grave, and the eye of cupidity and hope can only be
closed by the needle of mortality and the thread of fate.
It is content
that makes men rich; Mark this, ye avaricious, who traverse the world: He
neither knows nor pays adoration to his God Who is dissatisfied with his condition
and fortune.”
But the
expected feast had taken such possession of poor puss’s imagination, that the
medicinal counsel of the old woman was thrown away.
“The good
advice of all the world is like wind in a cage, Or water in a sieve, when
bestowed on the headstrong.”
To conclude:
next day, accompanied by her companion, the half-starved cat hobbled to the
Sultan’s palace. Before this unfortunate wretch came, as it is decreed that the
covetous shall be disappointed, an extraordinary event had occurred, and, owing
to her evil destiny, the water of disappointment was poured on the flame of her
immature ambition. The case was this: a whole legion of cats had the day before
surrounded the feast, and made so much noise that they disturbed the guests;
and in consequence the Sultan had ordered that some archers armed with bows
from Tartary should, on this day, be concealed, and that whatever cat advanced
into the field of valour, covered with the shield of audacity, should, on
eating the first morsel, be overtaken with their arrows. The old dame’s puss
was not aware of this order. The moment the flavour of the viands reached her,
she flew like an eagle to the place of her prey.
Scarcely had
the weight of a mouthful been placed in the scale to balance her hunger, when a
heart-dividing arrow pierced her breast.
A stream of
blood rushed from the wound. She fled, in dread of death, after having
exclaimed, “Should I escape from this terrific archer, I will be satisfied with
my mouse and the miserable hut of my old mistress. My soul rejects the honey if
accompanied by the sting. Content, with the most frugal fare, is preferable.”
(fairytalez.com)
