Define "narrative."

A narrative is indeed defined as a storytelling format that recounts events, which can be either real or fictional. This broad definition encompasses a wide range of forms, including novels, short stories, biographies, and even oral storytelling traditions. Narratives serve the purpose of engaging an audience by creating a structure that allows them to experience events through the perspectives of characters or a narrator, providing insight into human experiences, emotions, and conflicts.

The focus on recounting events is essential to narratives, as they typically have a clear sequence—beginning, middle, and end—that guides the reader through the story. This structure helps convey themes and messages that resonate with audiences, making narratives a powerful tool in both literature and other forms of communication.

Other definitions, such as those that refer to methods of presenting research findings or strictly factual writing, do not capture the essence of a narrative, which is fundamentally about storytelling. Similarly, a collection of poetic verses does not fit within the definition of a narrative, as poetry may not follow a sequential event structure but rather focus on emotion, imagery, or abstract concepts. Thus, option A accurately encapsulates what a narrative entails.