Narrative Structure and Components

1. Narrative Structure

2. Open Narrative
This is where the narrative will never reach a sound conclusion/ending or to an audience the media
text has no sense of ending.
This may be for many reasons but a main example will be the growth and introduction of new
characters in Comic books or even TV shows, more specifically soap operas, although a certain
character and their own storyline arch may finish overall the whole narrative will still run with
the arrival of new or pervious characters.
Within an open narrative the structure is much in chronological order for the most part especially
with TV shows such as Emmerdale and Coronation street.

3. Closed Narrative
Essentially this is the opposite of an open narrative and this is due to the fact that the narrative will reach
an overall conclusion or ending, even if that then leads on to the expectation of a squeal
the overall narrative that the media text was based around will be finished.
There are many examples that could be used when taking about closed narrative for example Logan (2017)
is an example of a closed narrative not only because of the storyline and the outcome of the characters at
the end but also because it is the final installment of the Wolverine trilogy.
Books can also have a closed narrative as part of their structure and an example of this would be my own
children book that I have just recently made as part of this course. This is because the story starts of the
first page where the characters (Three pigs and a wolf) are introduced and then ends of the last page.
There is no ambiguous ending or even any hints/undertone that another book/sequel that other books do
(for example Maze Runner series) and I think that heavily relates to not only to the storyline structure and
the storyline but also who the target audience is and taking into consideration the understanding
that children would have over a closed narrative book rather than an open narrative.

4. Single Strand
If when reading or even watching a media text if there is only one storyline present throughout the
whole duration than this is an example of a single stand structure.
This is more common in media texts such as journalism, news and young children books. There are
many reasons why single strand structure will be used and this may be because there
actually isn't any need for another storyline as it doesn't add anything and it can actually act more
as a hindrance than anything else.
A single strand has one storyline and because of this the focus will mainly one a single person and
there involvement towards said storyline, they would essentiality be the main focus during the
media text, such as a film or book for the audience.
My children's book which I created for this project is a prime example of this narrative structure.
This is due to the fact the only storyline is the wolf trying to eat the three pigs.

5. Multi-Strand
In contrast to single strand you have multi-strand, this narrative structure is the opposite and this is
because it has more than one storyline going on a once. With a multi-strand narrative the storylines don't
all have to be have a big impact towards the main storyline, can link towards the main storyline while also
giving the audience a backstory as well as showing the audience character development.
This is something that is can be in different media texts such as TV shows and books. For
example The 100 (TV Show) there are many different storylines going on but towards the end of the show,
series finale all the storylines link together and you understand character motives better.
In contrast to this you can also have several storylines and therefore use this narrative technique but the
storylines don't have to correlate or even link. Sometimes you use separate storylines to introduce
comic relief when another storyline is becoming dark.
An example of this being used is TV shows but more specially the soaps such as Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and
Home and away.
They have
several storylines that run for weeks on end and sometimes they may alternate these storylines between
days, this gives the audience a much wider story but also it means that they can expand other characters
and develop them.

6. Linear
Another narrative structure that can been used with media texts is the use of keeping events in
linear order. This essentially means that the media text, whether it be a film, book
or television series will start that the beginning and will finish at the end.
For example Power Rangers (2017) is an example of film having a linear structure. The beginning of
the film is all about character development of trying to get the audience to connect and understand
the character motives and the middle of the film is where the action speeds up, then
the climax where there is a fight and the five characters come together and then the ending where
they win. The overall story is very straight forward and an easy concept to follow.
Another example would be Disney Films – this would be because of the target audience that they
are aimed towards would make it easier for the audience to understand a chronological basic
narrative structure.

7. Non-Linear
If the structure of an media text doesn't make sense because due to
the inconsistency of structure then it is classed as Non-linear. What I mean by inconsistency of
structure is if the film doesn’t start at the beginning, have a middle section and then finish at the
end.
A prime example of this is Memento (2000) – this is one of those films that due to the Non-linear
structure that you have to watch more than once to really understand it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUF9H4b_bbc

8. Realist
If the events are believable and by this I mean it without too much stretch of the imagination
could actually become a possibility/happen then it is a realist structure. A realist storyline or media
text is also something that people can relate to due to the fact that they may have or
will experience the situation and therefore this can create a better understanding and relationship
not only with the character and the audience but the overall show as well.
An example of this in practice is would be television shows such as Emmerdale and Hollyoaks,
although the situations that happen when all put together throughout the year are very highly likely
to happen, if the situation was to be isolated from all the others it is an actual possibility and could
even be a realistic storyline that people have experienced or will experience.

9. Anti-Realist
This is where the media text is set or implied to be in a non-realistic atmosphere/situation.
For example Independence Day: Resurgence – just like the majority of Sci-fi films it would be
very unrealistic or depending on what you do or don't believe, impossible to happen now or in the
future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCe_JshWOZ0
Another example is Transformers, all films as part of the transformers franchise are undoubtable an
anti-realist narrative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heEjhk9IUZU
Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park – The Last World are both examples of anti-realist narrative in terms
of a different media text such as a book.

10. Narrative Components

11. Opening
The opening of a media text can start in many different ways.
For example it can start straight away by addressing the situation.
The opening could also feature a scene/chapter that happens towards the end and then the rest of
the film is building up to that situation.
This is more for media texts such as books and films where the character development and
character relationship with the audience is condensed into 90 minutes or 400 pages (unlike a TV
Shows where it can be spread over a long period of time). The opening can be more about creating
a relationship with the audience and the characters within the media text with each other – then
towards the middle of the film is when the action and the conflict.
For example How To Get Away With Murder opens up some episodes with a flash forwards this
allows for the interpterion of enigmas to be present with the audience to peak their interest and get
them to keep watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5OAmb5MeUg

12. Conflict
Conflict is present with most media texts depending on the age and therefore the target audience.
Conflict works in a media text by keeping the audience on edge and interested. Conflict is used to
create tension between the characters or within the narrative and causes the audience to doubt
that things are going to turn out positive.
Within a narrative it is not limited to just one conflict throughout the whole storyline, for example
my children's book, The Three Little Pigs, only has one conflict present within it but that is because
of who the target audience is and therefore having a complicated structure of a storyline and
multiple sublots and characters would confuse a younger audience of 3-6. In comparison something
like the Game Of Thrones throughout each episode there are several conflicts with multiple
characters, some of those conflicts even intertwin with other present characters and storylines
within the show.
As part of narrative conflict and resolution are usually closely linked together but this is mostly at
the end of the of the storyline/characters arch as it not only creates closure for the audience but
also for other characters present within the media text.

13. Resolution
This refers to the ending of the media text and more so within books and films the ending of conflict
whether that be internal or conflict with someone else.
Usually during the point in which the resolution is present within the media text, the enigmas that
were apart of the storyline are solved and any conflict is resolved or at least decline for the rate of
action that action that it was previously.
With my children's book the resolution is that the Wolf runs away after getting his tail burnt and the
three pigs live – not exactly happily ever after cliché but it is still relevant to the genre and target
audience.

14. Enigma
When referring to an enigma it is a narrative technique that interest to people to watch a film at the
cinema, buy a magazine, read/buy a book. It is essentially are marketing ploy to get people to buy and/or
engage with the product.
It can be used on different media texts such as magazine covers and TV shows.
An example of an enigma being used is the TV show Riverdale (Netfilx/CW). The Enigma is finding out
who killed Jason Blossom and every episode a new storyline will develop and it intrigues the audience
because they in theory make every character look guilty or have a motive to make the audience watch
each episode to gain new information. The same for other shows such as Pretty Little Liars and the whole
situation of who A actually was.
Continuing from another point I made about How To Get Away With Murder not only does the show have
the use of an enigma at the start of the show, sometimes they will place a flash-forward in the middle of
narrative to keep them interested or to add another aspect/depth to a character. Usually if they don't
have a flash-forward at the start of the show then they will place on at the end of the show, however
when they tend to do this it will usually have more of a dramatic effect by revealing something critical to
the audience or even just ending it on a major cliff hanger, this means that the audience will more then
likely tune in next week and boost ratings.

15. Climax
When taking about the climax within a narrative it refers to the turning point in the action, this
could also be were the interest within the media text with the audience peaks.
The climax is also meant to be the most dramatic part of the media text, depending on the tone,
and the audience that the media text is aimed it. The situation will either take a turn for the better,
this is more a younger audience and happy situations but the story can take a turn for the worst but
this again would be aimed at an older audience and a story where the situation is much darker
and/or sad.
An example of a climax taking place within a media text would be Jaws.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW23RsUTb2Y
You could also argue that my children's book that I made for this project also has a climax within it,
this would be about page 8 when the wolf starts to climb the house of bricks once he notices the
chimney.

16. Manipulation of time and space
When referring to manipulation of time and space in media texts it is used as a tool to show a fast
forward in time whether that be hours, days or even years so that the audience won't get bored
watching a very realistic plane or even train journey, it would be visually draining and time
consuming in terms of a TV show or even a film. It would be even harder for an author to explain to
the audience to explain the detail in realistic terms of the time.
A book might be easier to show the duration of time if it was a younger children as you could spilt
the page into four and show each season – this would make the manipulation of time and space
much more visual and would make it easier for an audience to see.
A classic example of this would be Tarantino's Pulp Fiction
Hot Fuzz is also another example where he is on the train moving to the village where he was
moving to his new job/house. The use of the different cuts allows for the passing to take place while
not boring the audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8dFK5nI1YA