Which word refers to a narrative that aims to tell a story?

The term that refers to a narrative intended to tell a story is "narrative." A narrative encompasses any account of connected events, whether real or fictional, presented in a structured format that allows the reader or listener to engage with the plot and characters involved. This word directly captures the essence of storytelling, highlighting the importance of composition in conveying events and experiences through a coherent framework.

Other options, while related to storytelling, do not specifically denote a narrative in the same way. For instance, "exposition" typically refers to the part of a story where background information is provided, rather than the act of storytelling itself. "Chronicle" often implies a factual and detailed recounting of events, predominantly historical, while "discourse" refers to written or spoken communication rather than a narrative in the storytelling sense. Thus, "narrative" is the most precise choice in this context when discussing storytelling.