The document discusses Tzvetan Todorov's theories on narrative structure. It states that Todorov divides a conventional narrative into three acts: a beginning, middle, and end. The beginning establishes equilibrium in the story world, the middle contains events that disrupt this equilibrium and introduce disequilibrium, and the end achieves a new state of equilibrium by resolving the conflicts introduced in the middle.

1. TzvetanTodorov’s narrative structure

2.  Narrative refers to the formal aspects used in order to
tell a story.
 A story is the narration of a series of events
conveniently organised in a timeline, in order to make
sense.

3.  A conventional narrative
is divided in three acts:
beginning, middle and
end)
 The most conventional
narrative structure is
that of a linear narrative
(chronological order)
with a closed ending
(resolution of the
conflict/end)

5.  Plot
 Story
 Narrative The way in which the story is actually told. The
formal aspects of the storytelling.
A form of text, regardless of medium, describing a
sequence of events, caused and experienced by
characters, conveniently structured into a time
sequence in order to make sense.
Elements and generic conventions from which the
story will be made.

6.  Plot
 Story
 Narrative The way in which the story is actually told. The
formal aspects of the storytelling.
A form of text, regardless of medium, describing a
sequence of events, caused and experienced by
characters, conveniently structured into a time
sequence in order to make sense.
Elements and generic conventions from which the
story will be made.

7.  Plot
 Story
 Narrative The way in which the story is actually told. The
formal aspects of the storytelling.
A form of text, regardless of medium, describing a
sequence of events, caused and experienced by
characters, conveniently structured into a time
sequence in order to make sense.
Elements and generic conventions from which the
story will be made.

8.  Plot
 Story
 Narrative The way in which the story is actually told. The
formal aspects of the storytelling.
A form of text, regardless of medium, describing a
sequence of events, caused and experienced by
characters, conveniently structured into a time
sequence in order to make sense.
Elements and generic conventions from which the
story will be made.

9.  TzvetanTodorov (born March
1, 1939) is a Franco-bulgarian
philosopher. His main field of
work is literary theory, culture
theory and thought history.
 His most significant essay on
narrative theory is Introduction
à la littérature fantastique
(1970), translated by Richard
Howard as The Fantastic: A
Structural Approach to a
Literary Genre in 1973.

10.  The terms used byTodorov to define the three main parts of
a conventional narrative structure are:
Equilibrium – the balanced normality of the world previous
to the story.
Disequilibrium – Disruption/Recognition of disruption.
The unbalanced world between the
problem and the climax.
New Equilibrium – Attempt to repair/Reinstatement. A
return to normality at the end –
returning the world to balanced state.

11. Equilibrium Disequilibrium New equilibrium
Disruption Recognition Attempt Reinstatement