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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Narrative and Story?

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The difference between narrative and story lies in the way they are presented and structured. Here are the main distinctions between the two:

  • Story: A story is a description of imaginary people and events, focusing on the sequence of events and the characters involved. It is the series of events at issue, and it can be fictional or non-fictional.
  • Narrative: A narrative is the story mediated through how the teller presents it, involving the choice of which events to relate and in what order. It turns the story into information or knowledge for the recipient (the audience or reader) and often implies causality. Narrative can also refer to the tone, perspective, and literary voice used in telling the story.

In summary, a story is the sequence of events and characters, while a narrative is the way the story is presented, structured, and conveyed to the audience. A narrative can create a sense of mystery or tension, engaging the audience and making them want to find out what happens in the story and why.

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  • What is the Difference Between Narrative and Story?
  • Comparative Table: Narrative vs Story

    • Comparative Table: Narrative vs Story

    Here is a table outlining the differences between narrative and story:

    Narrative Story
    A narrative is how we choose to tell a story, applying different lenses to color the reflections of the story and make them more beautiful. A story is an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment.
    Narrative focuses on the lens through which the story is told, which can change depending on the context and audience. Story focuses on the actual events and people involved, which remain consistent throughout different tellings.
    Narratives can be applied to the same story multiple times, creating different versions to suit different situations or audiences. Stories have a fixed structure, with a beginning, middle, and end, and the core events and people do not change.
    In business storytelling, narratives are used to create more dramatic and satisfying stories by minimizing, maximizing, removing, or reordering events. In business storytelling, stories are used to convey truths that reflect experiences, with the focus on the actual events and people involved.
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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.