10 Examples of Narrative Text in the Legend with Generic Structure Analysis

Understanding Text: The example of narrative text can be a legend, fairy tale, myth, or fable. This example of narrative text legend cover various stories around the regions. We have known that an example of short narrative text is often  given as medium in learning English in high schools. Some can be fable narrative text,
fairy tale narrative text fable text, myth narrative text, narrative text folktale, narrative text myth, narrative text romance, or legend narrative text like what we are now learning. All forms in the
kinds of narrative text are given in different grade in high schools

When learning text in the genre of narrative, students should understand at least four areas. They are the definition of narrative text, the generic structure of narrative text, the language features of narrative text, and the narrative text examples. The definition of narrative text can be simplified as a story with complication among the participants. The generic structure of narrative text is how the story is arranged from first scene to the last one. Meanwhile, the language feature is answering the question like
"why do narrative texts use simple past tense". It is the major usage of grammar in forming the story.
The last area is the narrative text example. It is focused in the reading activities to stimulate the writing skill. The short narrative text example is then taken as the blueprint lesson where is should give some thought for moral values. When student read the story of Toba Lake, they have to understand what
narrative text Toba lake and the moral value are.

Now we are giving these ten examples of narrative text in the legend stories from across the region in Indonesia. Some of the stories are given with the analysis of the generic structure and some are not. The stories which are not provided the generic structure notes can be used to be the exercise to find the generic structure. 

1. Example of Narrative Text in the Legend of Tangkuban Perahu

The Story of Sangkuriang and Tangkuban Perahu Mountain

Once, there was a kingdom in Priangan Land. Lived a happy family. They were a father in form of dog,his name is Tumang, a mother which was called is Dayang Sumbi, and a child which was called Sangkuriang.One day, Dayang Sumbi asked her son to go hunting with his lovely dog, Tumang. After hunting all day, Sangkuriang began desperate and worried because he hunted no deer. Then he thought to shot his own dog. Then he took the dog liver and carried home.
Soon Dayang Sumbi found out that it was not deer lever but Tumang's, his own dog. So, She was very angry and hit Sangkuriang's head. In that incident, Sangkuriang got wounded and scar then cast away from their home.
Years go bye, Sangkuriang had travel many places and finally arrived at a village. He met a beautiful woman and felt in love with her. When they were discussing their wedding plans, The woman looked at the wound in Sangkuriang's head. It matched to her son's wound who had left severall years earlier. Soon she realized that she felt in love with her own son.
She couldn't marry him but how to say it. Then, she found the way. She needed a lake and a boat for celebrating their wedding day. Sangkuriang had to make them in one night. He built a lake. With a dawn just moment away and the boat was almost complete. Dayang Sumbi had to stop it. Then, she lit up the eastern horizon with flashes of light. It made the cock crowed for a new day.
Sangkuriang failed to marry her. She was very angry and kicked the boat. It felt over and became the mountain of Tangkuban Perahu Bandung.

2. Example of Narrative Text - The Legend of Sura and Baya

An example narrative text can be a legend. The following story is the legend of Sura and Baya.The age became the forerunner of the name of the city of Surabaya. Most stories are narrative. If  a story consists of ORIENTATION, COMPLICATION, and RESOLUTION, surely the story is a narrative text. Let's see the following example of narrative text!

Narrative Text: The Legend of Sura and Baya

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 Awent back to the sea. Baya was happy.

3. Example of Narrative Text - The Story of Toba Lake

Reading a narrative is very interesting. One example is the story of narrative text legend. Why is the story of people  or place can be called as a narrative text? The answer is because the element conflicts among actors in the all story legend are usually so thick. That's why the simple story of the people generally can be categorized as a narrative text. Let's see the following example of narrative text in the form legend story!

Narrative Text Legend: 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 broke 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.

Note on Narrative Generic Structure

ORIENTATION: The first paragraph presents information about the participant of the story. In literary term, the participant is called as character. Orientation commonly introduces information about WHO, WHERE and WHEN.
COMPLICATION: Paragraph two explores the niche of the story. That is conflict among the characters of the story. This conflict will involve physical and psychological conflict. The conflict is actually the heart of any narrative text. It will drive the participant to make effort in solving the crisis.
RESOLUTION: The last paragraph closes the story with solving the crisis. However it can be better or worse.

4. Narrative Analysis on Malin Kundang Story

The Myth of 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, diligent, 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.

Narrative Analysis on Generic Structure
Many believe that a story can teach a society certain moral value. Most stories are build in narrative. Because it is a narrative story, it must consists of complication. That complication, in fact, is the moral value which like to be taught.
1. Orientation; the first paragraph is set to be the story introduction. Reading the orientation, reader will know that the story is characterized with Malin Kundang and his mother. Wes Sumatra is set as the place.
2. Complication; this is the main element of narrative story. From the Malin Kundang myth, we know that there are more than one complication. Many stories are composed with multi complications. They are minor complication and major complication. When Malin Kundang and her mother did life hard, it can be the minor complication. this hard life in the first time was solved by his successful trading as new merchant. However this narrative sotry is more interesting when we see the major complication among the participants- Malin Kundang denied his mother after being successful merchant. In every story, complication must be ended; happy ending or sad one
3. Resolution; this is the end of the story, the sad ending one. Malin Kundang faces his curse of turning into a stone.

5. Example of Narrative Text: The Legend of Rainbow

Now let's read a beautiful, heart breaking love story, the legend of rainbow. It is a legend which can be labelled as a narrative text example due to the way of paragraph's structure is organized. Every story seems to be a narrative text. It has the generic structure of Orientation, complication, resolution and optional re-orientation and coda elements. Take a look on the following legend, the story of rainbow. Though there are some versions, this is the famous one.

The legend of Rainbow - Narrative Text Example

A long time ago, there was a farmer. He had a small farm. One day he found that a wall which he had built on previous days was getting knocked down. The farmer did not know who or what made it. Because he felt tired of this happening the farmer decided to catch who should be responsible.

One evening, while the farmer was in guard he heard something strange near that wall, then he ran to find out who or what it was. It was surprising him because there were three star maidens there. When they saw the farmer was approaching, they tried to escape. Two of the star maidens could run and escape but one of them was left behind.

The farmer then caught the star maiden. She was beautiful and soon the farmer felt in love with her. Because he was afraid that the star maiden would run away, the farmer hid her magical wings so she could not fly anymore. the farmer and the star maiden got married.

Time went by they live together and got a beautiful baby boy. They lived happily for a long time, until one day, the star maiden found her magical wings near their house. She wore her wings back and flew with her son next to her. The farmer was alone and heart broken.

The gods saw the tears of the farmer. They felt pity of him so they decided to build a bridge of different colors for him to climb to the sky and see his son and wife.

That is one example of popular legend completing the previous narrative text stories. Hopefully it make us enjoy reading story and be happy learning English text.

6. Narrative Text Legend: The Dragon’s Daughter

As we stated before that the form narrative text can be a fable, fairy tale, folktale, myth, and legend like this story. Legend is a story which people commonly believe and has relate to a place name. That it is the story behind Pulau Banyak. Here is the legend story!

The Dragon’s Daughter - The legend Story of Pulau Banyak

Based on legend, there were a couple of dragon lived in Teluk, which today known as Tapaktuan. The king exiled them there because they did not have children. Day and night, the dragon prayed. Finally, God gave them a baby they had expected for so many years by sending a cute baby through the river. The dragon called the baby Putri Bungsu.

The dragons loved the baby so much. Year by year pass through and PutriBungsu had grown up as a beautiful young girl. One day, there were a man and woman showed up and met the dragon. They were coming from Asranaloka kingdom. They said that they are looking for a girl who lost about 17 years ago.

The human couple knew that PutriBungsu was their baby, so they asked the dragon to give her back. Because the dragon also loved her, and they had adopted her as their daughter, they did want to give what the couple wanted. The dragon and the man fought before a priest, named Tuan Tapa showed up. The priest asked the dragon to let the girl back to her family.

Once again, the dragon refused to do it. He then fought with Tuan Tapa. Tuan Tapa killed the male dragon and the girl was taken and returned to her family. The female dragon run to China and destroyed anything she found. She even separated an island into two parts. Now a days, the island known as Pulau Dua. She also destroyed a big island into 99 pieces, which today known as Pulau Banyak.

7. Narrative Text Legend: The Legend of Bali Strait

A legend is a story about something big in human history with tale qualities. A legend could be a true story or something with uncertainty. Sometime, it is included miracles and myth.  As  we said many time that narrative story can be in the form of  fable, legend, fairy tales, myth, folktale, and many other story among our society

The Legend of Bali Strait- Short narrative Text

Long time ago in Daha Kingdom, lived a great Brahma named Sidi Mantra. He had a son named Manik Angkeran who fell in big debt due to gamble. Sidi Mantra knew about treasure in Agung Mountain that safeguarded by Besukih Dragon.  With bell in his hand, Sidi Mantra recited a spell to call the dragon. Once the dragon came out, Sidi Mantra asked for help. The dragon agreed to gave him gold.

Manik Angkeran so happy to see the gold but greed made him want more. He stole his father bell and go to Agung Mountain to meet the dragon himself. After the dragon gave him gold, he became greedier and cut the tail of the dragon to get more. The dragon got angry and burnt him to death.

Sidi Mantra felt so sad and ask the dragon to bring his son back to life. The dragon agreed as long as he could get tail back. With his power, Sidi Mantra got the dragon’s tail back and Manik Angkeran alive.

Although Manik Angkeran felt sorry, Sidi Mantra knew they could not live together again. He put a stick on the ground between him and his son. Suddenly, water came out from the ground and became strait, which separate Bali Island and Java Island.

8. Narrative Text Legend: The Story of BauNyale in Lombok

Last week, we have the legend of dragon's daughter to learn narrative story. Today we give you another example of narrative text. That is the legend story of BauNyale in Lombok. Do you know Lombok? Yes, it is one of famous places with beautiful tourism objects in Indonesia.

Besides of  the popularity of Lombok, there is a legend story which will enlarge our perspective about Lombok. Legend like other traditional story of folktales which exists for a long time among society, has formed certain value. Here is the legend story for learning English text in high schools !

The Story of BauNyale in Lombok as  Narrative Text Legend

Once upon a time, in Lombok, there was a kingdom named Kuripan that was led by a wise king. The princess or the daughter of the king was so beautiful. Her name was Princess Mandalika. There were many princes wanted to marry Mandalika. However, the king was confused because too many princes came and proposed. Because of that reason, the king held an arrow competition. He promised that the winner had the chance to marry with his beloved daughter.

Just like expected, on the competition day, many princes came and participated. They had a good skill on arrow, so all of them were perfectly hit the target. The king became more confuse. Because there was no clear decision, the princes started to fight each other. Princess Mandalika was desperate. The beautiful princess did want to find anyone got killed. So, she then decided to go to the beach. She cried and thrown her body into the deep sea.

The beach where princess Mandalika killed herself is in southern Lombok. Up to today, in February or March, people who live near the sea celebrate the moment. On that day, there are thousands of seas worms appear to the surface. People call the worms as Nyale. They believe that the worms are the incarnation of princess Mandalika. The celebration is called “BauNyale”.

9. Narrative Text Legend: The Crying Stone

Telling story with such interesting legend story surely attracts many readers. That's is the power of story telling. We have a huge list of story to learn what and how narrative text is. Narrative text is defined differently from other story genres like spoof text, recount text, or news item text. Most of the story genres do not explore any complication among the participants.

In the other hand, complication becomes the main element of narrative story. In this way then narrative text is best to take as telling story. So if you will attend a telling story competition, simply take one of the best narrative text in the form of legend.

The Crying Stone -Example of Narrative Text Legend

Once upon a time, in a small village in Borneo Island, there lived a mother and her daughter. The daughter was popular among villagers because of her beautiful face but she has a bad behavior. She always spent her time in front of the mirror to admire her beautiful face. She never helped her mother to fulfill their daily needs. The daughter always made her mother sad. However, the mother still loved her very much.

One day, the girl asked her mother to buy her a new gown. The mother refused it because she had no money. Because the mother loved her daughter so much, she finally bought her a new gown.

Both went to the market. But the daughter asked her mother to walk behind because she was embarrassed if people saw them together. Once again, because of her love, the mother obeyed the daughter’s request.

Along the way home, the daughter still walked in front of her mother. People passing asked about the woman behind her. The daughter answer that she was not her mother but her servant. The mother kept silent. But inside her deep heart, she prayed to the God to punish her daughter. Suddenly, her daughter’s legs turned into stone. The daughter realized that it was because she had hurt her mother’s feeling. She begged to her mother to forgive but it was too late. Slowly, her body also turned into stone. Though the daughter had become a stone, but the tears were still seen, which was why the stone was called Batu Menangis.

10. Narrative Text Legend: Animals Appearance

Again we continue learning English narrative text. After giving you some fable stories, it is the time to learn other forms of narrative, legend story. Do you know what is legend? Yes, many students answer that a legend is a story which has a relation to a place, thing, or an object. Though the story is debatable in the truth of the content, it keeps the the richness of certain society culture.

Story Behind How Animals Got Their Appearance - Narrative Text Legend

Long time ago, animals were very different from how they appear today. Some animals were taller, some were thinner and some even had more legs than they have today. However, everything was boring and peaceful at the time until a red dragon saying that the world is going to end. Lion and chicken who had ever heard such issue before disbelieved.

The red dragon convinced both animals and said that the world is coming to an end within few days. Other animals who heard the issue asked the dragon where he found the information. Red dragon said that he had been told by a witch that the world is too old and would going to an end.

A rhino then asked to the dragon about what shall they do next. Red dragon said that all animals should climb onto his back and he would bring them fly to another world. All animals rushed to get on the red dragon’s back, except the lion. He said that he is a king and he never frightened of anything. He decided to stay.

The red dragon then flapped both wings and flew into the sky. Some animals felt uncomfortable because they never fly before. The animals started to fight each other. Because there were too many movements on his back, the flight was unstable and finally all of them fell down from the sky. Some animals landed with their face, some were with their body and some other landed with their tail first. All of them were injured and got different appearance like what we saw today. 

Learning the text of narrative legend or fable is interesting. Take an example, when seeing the generic structure narrative text the bear and rabbit, we will see the story plot goes on in the amazing way. In the same way, a legend story can not stop telling the society culture where the story appears. The legend text usually relates to the name of places. While the narrative fable shows how some animal behave like human. In the same way, the narrative fairy tale is giving some extraordinary spots on society folk.

This narrative text is used as media to learn English in one hand and the others are to give some experiences to read simple and classical literature such as narrative text about legend, narrative text fairy tale, or the text of narrative in fable story. Some famous stories should be know, they are narrative text about Sura and Baya, narrative text about Cinderella, narrative text about snow white, or narrative text about Malin Kundang. These stories of narrative text in the form of legend should give positive lessons.

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