Narrative Analysis

Abstract

The narrative analysis framework has been adopted to analyze the research ob- servations and findings. It culminates logically from the ’epistemology of the particular’. People make sense of themselves, and the world around them, knit- ting together different situations, experiences and themes from the past and pre- sent, in a unique way. To make this sense sensible for themselves and others, they try to develop a coherent, and often sequential, narrative. As quoted from Appiah in the preceding chapter, identity "typically has a strong narrative dimension" (Appiah 2005: 68). It is through our narratives that we construct and express our identities. "A person’s identity is not to be found in behaviour, nor – important though this is – in the reaction of others, but in the capacity to keep a particular narrative going’ (Giddens 1991: 54). A coherent sense of identity is possible by keeping one’s narrative going.