Periodic Table of Narratives

25 modes of public discourse

Each element is a type of narrative with a specific purpose, speech act, and temporal orientation. Click an element to reveal its properties. In "Compounds" mode, combine two elements — and see what hybrid genre they produce. Switch lenses to highlight patterns by speech act or time.

Lens:
Evaluative
Strategic
Explanatory
Descriptive
Investigative
Social
Dramaturgical
Click an element to reveal it
Evaluative
1
Cr
Critique
Express
2
Pr
Praise
Express
3
Rk
Ranking
Assert
4
Ae
Taste Ethics
Declrv
Strategic
5
Lb
Lobby
Direct
6
Pt
Pitch
Commis
7
Fr
Framing
Hidden
8
Ag
Agenda-setting
Declrv
Explanatory
9
An
Analysis
Assert
10
Md
Method
Direct
11
Sy
Synthesis
Assert
Descriptive
12
Wt
Witness
Assert
13
Dl
Datalog
Assert
14
Cu
Curation
Assert
Investigative
15
Qu
Question
Direct
16
Hy
Hypothesis
Condnl
17
Te
Thought Exp.
Condnl
18
Ap
Apophatics
Negat
Social
19
Sp
Support
Express
20
Cf
Confession
Express
21
Bl
Belonging
Declrv
Dramaturgical
22
St
Storytelling
Narrtv
23
Ir
Irony
Invert
24
Ri
Ritual
Declrv
25
Mf
Manifesto
Declrv
Speech Act
Time
Theorist
Example