What is a narrative?

A narrative is defined as a spoken or written account of connected events; essentially, it is a story that unfolds in a sequence. This definition highlights the key aspects of narratives: they involve characters, settings, and a plot that ties the events together, making it possible for the audience to engage with and follow the story. Narratives can be found across various formats, including novels, short stories, and even oral histories.

In contrast, the other options describe different concepts. The first option refers to a type of poetry, which focuses more on structure and form rather than storytelling. The third option pertains to persuasive writing, which aims to convince the reader about a particular viewpoint or idea without necessarily telling a story. Lastly, while the fourth option mentions a genre of fiction, it does not encapsulate the breadth of what a narrative can be; narratives can exist in both fictional and non-fictional contexts. Thus, the correct answer encompasses the comprehensive definition of a narrative, emphasizing its nature as a story that connects events.