Both Uses of
narrate
in
Don Quixote
- The only one that fared at all well with him was a Spanish soldier, something de Saavedra by name, to whom he never gave a blow himself, or ordered a blow to be given, or addressed a hard word, although he had done things that will dwell in the memory of the people there for many a year, and all to recover his liberty; and for the least of the many things he did we all dreaded that he would be impaled, and he himself was in fear of it more than once; and only that time does not allow, I could tell you now something of what that soldier did, that would interest and astonish you much more than the narration of my own tale.†
Chpt 1.39-40narration = the act, process, or instance of telling a story
- The duchess withdrew to hear from the page about his adventures in Sancho's village, which he narrated at full length without leaving a single circumstance unmentioned.†
Chpt 2.51-52 *narrated = told (a story)
Definition:
to tell a story-possibly as the main voice in a documentary; or a character who speaks to the audience in a performance
The specific meaning of narrate depends on context. For example:
- "She narrated her story with tears in her eyes." -- told a story
- "Her diary chillingly narrates her descent into madness." -- tells a story in writing
- "Morgan Freeman narrated the documentary which features historic news reports and interviews." -- was the voice that tells a story while tying the scenes of a documentary together
- "The character who plays the Stage Director in Our Town also narrates for the audience." -- when an actor in a play, movie, or other performance helps to tell the story by talking directly to the audience (breaking the imaginary barrier between the performers and the audience)