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Narrative Theory

This document discusses several narrative theories for analyzing stories and media works. It describes narrative as a sequence of events (plot) presented in a particular way (narrative) to an audience. Several theorists are covered, including Propp who identified character roles and story functions, Todorov who described narratives as moving from equilibrium to disequilibrium and back to a new equilibrium, and Barthes who discussed enigma codes that engage audiences by slowly revealing information. It also outlines Levi-Strauss' theory of binary oppositions in narratives and the typical three-act Hollywood movie structure of beginning, middle, and end.

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Isla Fisher
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26 views

Narrative Theory

This document discusses several narrative theories for analyzing stories and media works. It describes narrative as a sequence of events (plot) presented in a particular way (narrative) to an audience. Several theorists are covered, including Propp who identified character roles and story functions, Todorov who described narratives as moving from equilibrium to disequilibrium and back to a new equilibrium, and Barthes who discussed enigma codes that engage audiences by slowly revealing information. It also outlines Levi-Strauss' theory of binary oppositions in narratives and the typical three-act Hollywood movie structure of beginning, middle, and end.

Uploaded by

Isla Fisher
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Narrative Theory

Story = sequence of events, known correctly as the plot


Narrative = the way those events are put together to be presented to an audience
- Narrative has been around for ages
- Once….. = invites us into the narrative world which is set in the past
- Upon a time = situates us in a world we know is different to our own, in a time that is not now
Opening
- Genre
- Theme
- Narrative direction
- Types of characters
- Enigma codes
- Music assists with creating the tone of the series

When analysing media work, we:


- Analyse the construction of the story i.e. the way it has been put together, not the story itself
- Consider the deeper meaning of the story, what the story is about. This is known as the THEME

How to analyse narrative


Construct the following
- Technical codes
- Verbal codes
- Symbolic codes
- Structure
- Character
- Narrative conflict

Narrative theory 1
Propp
The Hero’s journey
Propp looked at folk tales and saw some structures they share in common
He found 8-character roles and 31 functions that move the story along
- The villain
- The hero (not always good but always carries the story along, the central character and not always
male)
- The donor (who provides an object with some special property)
- The helper (who helps the hero)
- The princess (the reward for the hero and object of the villain’s schemes)
- Her father (who rewards the hero)
- The dispatcher (who sends the hero on his way)
- The false hero

Narrative theory 2
Tzvetan Todorov
Balance - Disruption - balance
- Stories begin in “equilibrium” - when all forces are in balance
- This is disrupted by a problem to cause “disequilibrium”. Then more events take place before a “new
equilibrium” is stablished

Narrative theory 3
Roland Barthes
Enigma codes - these are little puzzles which the audience needs to solve throughout the plot. Pleasure and
engagement are derived/held by the solution of these enigmas
Example - Murder mystery and detective dramas use enigma codes to slowly reveal the narrative, with key
information needed to solve the case saved until near the end of the programme to create
Narrative theory 4
Levi-Strauss
He argued that all meaning-making, not just narratives, depend on binary oppositions - a conflict between two
sides/qualities which are opposite
E.g. weak - strong Cowboys - Indians

Narrative theory 5
Hollywood 3 act structure
Beginning ACT 1 Middle ACT 2 End ACT 3
Act 1 - the set up
Act 2 - obstacles
Act 3 - resolution

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