Narrative theories examine storytelling and how stories affect human perception. Tsvetan Todorov's theory from 1960 describes a narrative structure involving an initial equilibrium, a disruption of equilibrium, and a new resolution or equilibrium. Roland Barthes identified five codes that provide meaning in stories: enigma, suspense, additional meaning, cultural references, and symbolic elements. Vladimir Propp analyzed Russian folktales and identified character types that move the plot forward, such as heroes, villains, helpers, and dispatchers. Claude Lévi-Strauss argued that meaning comes from binary oppositions between opposing sides in conflicts.

1. Narrative Theories
And famous examples

2. WhatAreThey?
 Narrative theories are the studies of storytelling,
narrative structure and how they affect human
perception. Narrative theories suggest that stories
share certain features, but particular media tell stories
in different ways.

3. TsvetanTodorov
 Tsvetan Todorov was a Bulgarian philosopher, linguist
and literacy critic. In 1960 he came up with the theory
which he argued that the story starts with
‘’equilibrium’’-when everything is in balance. Then
some kind of problem disrupts it and causes
‘’disequilibrium’’. After that the ‘’acknowledgement’’ of
disruption comes which forces an attempt to do
‘’solution’’ of the the damage. By the end the ‘’new
equilibrium’’ starts.

4. RolandBarthes
 Roland Gérard Barthes was a French essaist. In 1957 he
released a book ‘’Mythologies’’ in which he describes the
concept of semiotics to analyze signs in modern culture. The
theory of semiotics provides a basis of understanding how
signs or codes define the mood. There are five semiotic codes:
 Enigma (any element in a story which is not explained)
 Proairetic (the elements which create suspense)
 Semantic (any element which suggests an additional
meaning by connotation)
 Cultural (any element which refers to a famous piece of
work)
 Symbolic (elements which shows ‘’something beneath the
surface)

5. VladimirPropp
 Vladimir Propp was a Russian Soviet critic and folklorist
who explored the structure of Russian folklore stories and
in 1928 published the book ‘’Morphology of the Folktale’’ in
which he argued that stories are character driven and plot
develops due to the decisions the protagonist makes. In
Propp theory there are also certain character types:
 Hero (Protagonist)
 Villain (Antagonist)
 Donor (Provider)
 Helper (Companion)
 False Hero (Characters which pretend they did a task but
they didn’t)
 Dispatcher (Someone who contributes for story to start)
 Reward (The physical/spiritual prize the protagonist
receives

6. ClaudeLévi-
Strauss
 Claude Lévi-Strauss was a French theorist who argued
in 50s that all meaning making depent on binary
opposites which is a concflict between two side that are
opposites. The opposite can be anyrhing: age, gender,
ethnicity, characteristics, skills etc.