GCSE Film Studies introduction to narrative

1. Theories of Narrative 1
Narrative Chronology
 Narrative: The story - what happens or what is depicted
 Narrator: The person who tells the story (first or third
person)
 Linear/Chronological – Told in order events occurred in
 Non Linear – Events told out of sequence
 Flashback – A story begins, then travels backwards in time
to show more important background information, before
continuing: This is an example of non-linear narrative
 Parallel storylines / multi-thread narratives – Several story
elements occurring at the same time
 Inter-cutting – Editing between one storyline and another
 Cyclical narrative – A story that goes round in a circle
 Narrative enigma – mysteries which engage the audience

2. Narrative Positioning
 Audience positioning – the way we are manipulated to see
things from one character’s point of view
 Narratives can be dramatized (somebody tells the story)
or undramatized (the story is just shown, without
commentary)
 Dramatized narrative - somebody narrates or tells the
story
 Undramatized narrative - the story is just shown,
without commentary or narration
 However, undramatized narratives can still position
audiences: Think about the character you see or hear first,
or who dominates screen time
Theories of Narrative 2

3. Narrative Voice
 First person narration - The story is told by the main
character, using “I”
 This is a form of restricted narration – when we see an
event through the viewpoint of only one person. This can
add surprise as we only discover events alongside them,
and means that we are piecing the puzzle together as the
characters do
 Third person narration – An example of omniscient
narration – when we see events from multiple viewpoints.
This can add suspense as we are privy to information other
characters are not, and we anticipate how different
storylines will collide
Theories of Narrative 3