ANECDOTE a)

Definition and Social Function of Anecdote :

Anecdote is a text which retells funny and unusual incidents in fact or imagination. Its purpose is to entertain the readers.

b) Generic Structure of Anecdote : 1. Abstract : signals the retelling of an unusual incident 2. Orientation : sets the scene (when and where) 3. Crisis : provides details of the unusual incident 4. Reaction : reaction to crisis 5. Coda (optional) : reflection on or evaluation of the incident Example Anecdote : Snake in the Bath How would you like to find a snake in your bath? A nasty one too! We had just moved into a new house, which had been empty for so long that everything was in a terrible mess. Anna and I decided we would clean the bath first, so we set to, and turned on the tap. Suddenly to my horror, a snake head appeared in the plug-hole. Then out slithered the rest of his long thin body. He twisted and turned on the slippery bottom of the bath, spitting and hissing at us. For an instant I stood there quite paralysed. Then I yelled for my husband, who luckily came running and killed the snake with the handle of a broom. Anna, who was only three at the time, was quite interested in the whole business. Indeed I had to pull her out of the way or shed probably have leant over the bath to get a better look! We found out later that it was a black mamba, a poisonous kind of snake. It had obviously been fast asleep, curled up at the bottom of the nice warm water-pipe. It must have had an awful shock when the cold water came trickling down! But nothing to the shock I got! Ever since then Ive always put the plug in firmly before running the bath water. Crisis Orientation Abstract

Reaction

Coda