What is a "narrative"?

A "narrative" refers to a spoken or written account of connected events, which encompasses storytelling in both fiction and nonfiction. This definition captures the essence of narrative as it involves a structured format where events are interrelated and presented in a particular sequence to convey a message or an experience. Narratives can take various forms, including novels, short stories, anecdotes, and even true accounts of events, emphasizing the connection and coherence of the events being described.

The other options, while related to literature, do not define what a narrative is. The emotional atmosphere described in the second option pertains to the mood of a piece, which is distinct from the narrative structure itself. The third option focuses on character development, an element that can exist within a narrative but does not encompass the entirety of what a narrative is. Lastly, the fourth option mentions figurative language, which is a stylistic device that can be used within narratives but is not representative of what constitutes a narrative as a whole.