--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I say \"narrative\", I do not mean…" description: "\"“When I say \"narrative\", I do not mean simply the plot, I mean considerably more. Plots and their shapes--the bare outlines of stories--were something ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/diana-wynne-jones-1486_narrative_when-i-say-narrative-i-do-not-mean-simpl_2601478.jpg" --- # When I say "narrative", I do not mean simply the plot, I… ![“When I say "narrative", I do not mean simply the plot, I mean considerably more. Plots and their shapes--the bare outlines of stories--were something I know J.R.R. Tolkien himself was interested in. When I was an undergraduate, I went to a course of lectures he gave on the subject--at least, I…” quote by Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/diana-wynne-jones-1486_narrative_when-i-say-narrative-i-do-not-mean-simpl_2601478.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/diana-wynne-jones-1486_narrative_when-i-say-narrative-i-do-not-mean-simpl_2601478.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/diana-wynne-jones-1486_narrative_when-i-say-narrative-i-do-not-mean-simpl_2601478.jpg) > ““When I say "narrative", I do not mean simply the plot, I mean considerably more. Plots and their shapes--the bare outlines of stories--were something I know J.R.R. Tolkien himself was interested in. When I was an undergraduate, I went to a course of lectures he gave on the subject--at least, I think that was the subject, because Tolkien was all but inaudible. He evidently hated lecturing, and I suspect he also hated giving his thoughts away.”” [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Narrative encompasses more than plot; it includes deeper structures and meanings, as taught by Tolkien. **In simple terms:** Narrative is broader than plot, involving deeper meaning. Key Takeaway Explore narrative depth beyond plot. Themes storytelling structure literary analysis Mood analytical educational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - creative writing - literature studies - teaching Key Concepts mythic patterns authorial intent Questions to Reflect On - How does structure shape story impact? - What narrative elements resonate most with you? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on plot can miss thematic richness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Know Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-tolkien-1949353/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Narrative Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative-mean-1949354/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Subject Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subject-tolkien-1949352/) [Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolkien/) [Tolkien Interested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolkien-interested-1949351/) ## Related quotes > [The Lord of the Rings' is fundamentally an infantile work. Tolkien is not interested in the way grownup, adult human beings interact with each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/the-lord-of-the-rings-is-fundamentally-an-infantile-work-tolkien-is/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“When a child grows old enough to know J.R.R. 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Only way I can do something this frightening is to tell my self I’m not doing it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/not-likely-howl-yelled-i-m-a-coward-only-way-i-can-do-something-this/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Typical!” he said to Sophie. “ I break my neck to get here, and I find you peacefully tidying up!” Sophie looked up at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/typical-he-said-to-sophie-i-break-my-neck-to-get-here-and-i-find-you/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Howl said, "I think we ought to live happily ever after," and she thought he meant it. Sophie knew that living happily ever after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/howl-said-i-think-we-ought-to-live-happily-ever-after-and-she-thought/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Busy old fool, unruly Sophie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/busy-old-fool-unruly-sophie/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [But whoever heard of enchanted bacon anyway?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/but-whoever-heard-of-enchanted-bacon-anyway/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Then the geese replaced themselves with six pigs and vanished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/then-the-geese-replaced-themselves-with-six-pigs-and-vanished/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [If I give you a hint and tell you it's a hint, it will be information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/if-i-give-you-a-hint-and-tell-you-it-s-a-hint-it-will-be-information/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [I only want to catch you,” Michael explained. “I won’t hurt you.” “No! No!” the star crackled desperately. “That’s wrong! I’m supposed to die!”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/i-only-want-to-catch-you-michael-explained-i-won-t-hurt-you-no-no-the/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) [Explore all 232 Diana Wynne Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) ## More Narrative quotes > [Nostalgia keeps dissolving the ironic narratives in which I have contained my past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/nostalgia-keeps-dissolving-the-ironic-narratives-in-which-i-have/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Merkel has realized that the euro is not working, but she cannot change the narrative she has created because that narrative has caught the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/merkel-has-realized-that-the-euro-is-not-working-but-she-cannot/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [If you do weave one-liners into a story, you have to have an overall story as well, otherwise it doesn't really count as narrative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/if-you-do-weave-one-liners-into-a-story-you-have-to-have-an-overall/) [Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/) > [Your job as a writer is to find storylines, narrative structures, and characters to show the things that you believe rather than saying them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/your-job-as-a-writer-is-to-find-storylines-narrative-structures-and/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [A lot of Broadway has that immigrant narrative of America as a place where you can become something else against all odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-kass/a-lot-of-broadway-has-that-immigrant-narrative-of-america-as-a-place/) [Deborah Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-kass/) > [I've always been interested in medicine and was pleased when my brother became a doctor. 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