Personal Narrative Essay Examples for High School 2021 See Latest Update

A narrative essay is one of the most intimidating assignments you can be handed to in high school. Well, you’ve probably written; an argumentative essay that makes a point, analytic essays that dissect meaning or a narrative essay that asks you to write what is effectively a story.

In a narrative essay, you tell a story, often about a personal experience, but you also make a point. So, the purpose is not only to tell an entertaining tale but also to expound on the importance of the experience.

So this now leaves us with the question what is a Narrative essay? In this article, we have provided you with different personal narrative essay examples for high school.

What is a Narrative Essay?

Before giving you some of the personal narrative essays examples, you should note. A narrative essay is a type of essay that has a single motif, or a central point, around which the whole narrative revolves. Also, in this essay, all incidents, happenings, and characters revolve around a single motif presented in the narrative.

Furthermore, a narrative essay is similar to a simple five-paragraph essay. And this is so because it has the same format. Also, it is only different in that it is a narrative, having characters, incidents, and dialogues.

Additionally, the main purpose of a narrative essay is to tell the reader about events. Also, it tells us about interactions. That is an experience that has happened to the author during a particular period. It always has a vivid plot.

Essential Elements of a Narrative Essay

As you’re prepared to see narrative essays examples, note. There are essential elements that distinguish a narrative essay from other essays. A narrative essay has three required elements: character, theme, and dialogue.

1. Character

Characters are an important part of a narrative essay. And even if the essay is autobiographical, note. The person writing the essay is a character involving some other characters who act, behave, and do like all other characters presented in stories and novels.

2. Theme or Motive

A narrative essay revolves around a theme or a motive. And this theme or motif is presented in its thesis statement, which breaks it down into three distinct pieces of evidence. Also, these three distinct pieces of evidence are then further elaborated through characters in body paragraphs.

3. Dialogue

Dialogue is used to capture the conversation between characters. Also, in a narrative essay, the dialogue is the third important element, without which the characters lose their worth and liveliness.

Furthermore, the focus of a narrative essay is the plot, which is told with enough detail to build to a climax. Below are some other essential elements of a narrative essay:

• It’s usually told chronologically.
• Also, it always has a purpose. Often, this is stated in the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph.
• Furthermore, it may use dialogue.
• Additionally, it’s written with sensory details and bright descriptions that involve the reader. All these details relate in some way to the main point the writer is making.

Personal Narrative Essay Examples for High School

One of the best ways to learn how to write a narrative essay is to look at some of the great narrative essay samples. In doing this, it provides you with a man of your own and at the same time learning from the authors.

He Left So I Could Learn

In this first essay example, we will explore a lesson on dying:

It was my second day on the job. I was sitting in my seemingly gilded cubicle, overlooking Manhattan, and pinching my right arm to make sure it was real. I landed an internship at Condé Nast Traveler. Every aspiring writer I’ve ever known secretly dreamt of an Anthony Bourdain lifestyle. Travel the world and write about its most colorful pockets. 

When my phone rang, and it was Mom telling me Dad had a heart attack. He didn’t make it. I felt as though the perfectly carpeted floors had dropped out from under me. Now that I’ve come out the other side, I realize Dad left me with a hefty stack of teachings. Here are three ideas I know he would’ve liked for me to embrace. 

First, you have to stand on your own two feet. As much as our parents love and support us, they can’t go to our school and confess to the principal that we stole a candy bar from Sara. We have to do that. Neither can they walk into the Condé Nast office and nail a job interview for us. At some point, we have to put on our “big girl pants” and be brave, even if we’re not.  

Also, there’s a difference between love and co-dependence. Being grateful to have someone to turn to for love and support is not the same as needing someone to turn to for love and support. With the loss of my father, I’ve also lost my sounding board. All I can glean from that is it’s time to look within myself and make proper assessments. If I can’t make sound decisions with the tools already in my kit, then I risk falling for anything. 

Finally, memories are, perhaps, the only item that cannot be taken away from us. Will I miss my father? Every single day. What can I do in those times? I can open up our suitcase of memories, pick out my favourite one, and dream about it, talk about it, or write about it. Maybe I can’t pick up the phone and call him anymore, but that doesn’t mean he’s gone. 

Next week, I’m off to Istanbul to explore their art scene. As soon as I read the email from my editor, I picked up my phone to call Dad. Then, I realized he’ll never answer my calls again. I fought back the tears, got up to make a cup of peppermint tea, and added a new note to my iPhone titled, “Istanbul Packing List.” 

In the end, life goes on. I’m not sure why he had to leave during the single most poignant chapter in my life. So, I won’t dwell on that. Instead, I’ll hold tightly to these three ideals and write about Karaköy in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district. Dad will be with me every step of the way. 

A Teeny, Tiny Treasure Box

The next short narrative essay takes a different approach. Instead of living in a comfortable loving home, the writer had to deal with the uncertainty of the foster system. Here’s a short lesson on hope:

She took me by the hand and walked me into the lobby like a five-year old child. Didn’t she know I was pushing 15? This was the third home Nancy was placing me in – in a span of eight months. I guess she felt a little sorry for me. The bright fluorescent lights threatened to burn my skin as I walked towards a bouncy-looking lady with curly hair and a sweetly-smiling man. They called themselves Allie and Alex. Cute, I thought. 

After they exchanged the usual reams of paperwork, it was off in their Chevy Suburban to get situated into another new home. This time, there were no other foster children and no other biological children. Anything could happen. 

Over the next few weeks, Allie, Alex, and I fell into quite a nice routine. She’d make pancakes for breakfast, or he’d fry up some sausage and eggs. They sang a lot, even danced as they cooked. They must have just bought the house because, most weekends, we were painting a living room butter yellow or staining a coffee table mocha brown. 

I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. When would they start threatening a loss of pancakes if I didn’t mow the lawn? When would the sausage and eggs be replaced with unidentifiable slosh because he didn’t feel like cooking in the morning? But, it never happened. They kept cooking, singing, and dancing like a couple of happy fools. 

It was a Saturday afternoon when Allie decided it was time to paint the brick fireplace white. As we crawled closer to the dirty old firepit, we pulled out the petrified wood and noticed a teeny, tiny treasure box. We looked at each other in wonder and excitement. She actually said, “I wonder if the leprechauns left it!” While judging her for being such a silly woman, I couldn’t help but laugh and lean into her a little. 

Together, we reached for the box and pulled it out. Inside was a shimmering solitaire ring. Folded underneath was a short piece of paper that read: 

“My darling, my heart. Only 80 days have passed since I first held your hand. I simply cannot imagine my next 80 years without you in them. Will you take this ring, take my heart, and build a life with me? This tiny little solitaire is my offering to you. Will you be my bride?” 

As I stared up at Allie, she asked me a question. “Do you know what today is?” I shook my head. “It’s May 20th. That’s 80 days since Nancy passed your hand into mine and we took you home.” 

It turns out, love comes in all shapes and sizes, even a teeny, tiny treasure box from a wonderfully silly lady who believes in leprechauns.

In conclusion, narrative essays are close to writing short stories. If you have any other questions regarding the Personal Narrative Essay Examples for High School you can leave your comments below at the box provided below.

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CSN Team.