LITERARY COMPREHENSION THROUGH NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES: TEACHING READING AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL

This article explores how analyzing narrative techniques fosters deeper literary
comprehension among university students. Focusing on classics such as Romeo and Juliet, the study illustrates the limitations of simple plot summaries in capturing the essence of storytelling. Key narrative devices, such as in media res, foreshadowing, discriminated occasions and Freytag’s Pyramid are examined to emphasize their roles in developing nuanced understanding. The article also delves into the significance of conflict, categorizing obstacles (e.g., protagonist vs. self, antagonist, society, or fate) and demonstrating how they drive narrative progression. By comparing the structures of comedies and tragedies, it highlights how narrative resolution reflects character struggles and thematic depth. Designed for university reading courses, the study offers strategies to help students critically analyze why and how events occur in literature, moving beyond summaries to engage with the mechanics of storytelling, thereby enhancing interpretative and critical thinking skills.