All text assumes some narrative form . Humans are essentially storytellers. Rationality is determined by our inherent awareness of narrative probability and narrative fidelity . Narrative implies a story, but it is much more than that. First, the essence of narrative can be found in form, pattern, or structure.
Genre is the paradigmatic category in which a narrative's specific form fits.
Plot , then, is the syntagmatic construction of the components of the narrative. Another key aspect of the plot syntagm is the notion of conflict . Conflict occurs when one tries to resist or overcome some opposing force. The paradigmatic aspect of genres create generic expectation within the audience. Once the genre is recognized, the audience is aware of what is supposed to happen.