1. Theories
Tzvetan Todorov’s narrative structure
There are three ways in which a narrative can be
structured.
1) Circular
2) Episodic
3) Linear
The circular starts at the end, it has a lot of flashbacks, but in the end the
story is understood and it makes sense. An example of this would be
Titanic.
The episodic is broken up into chapters like books, sometimes it’s broken
up into different points of views of the characters, and these are when the
chapters split into.
The linear is the normal one; it has a beginning, middle and an end.
Todorov’s theory of narrative follows the linear structure and has three
main parts to it which are: Equilibrium- (beginning) everything is okay and
fine, balanced.
Disequilibrium- (middle) something bad happens, there’s in-balance, and
then the characters acknowledge it.
Equilibrium- (end) the problem is resolved, the find a resolution and
everything goes back to normal or turns for the better.
Vladimir Propp
Vladimir Propp’s theory of characters, there has to be at least 8 types of
characters;
1. The hero- Protagonist
2. The villain- Antagonist
3. The donor

2. 4. The helper
5. The princess
6. The princess’s father
7. The dispatcher
8. The false hero
Claude Levi- Strauss
Claude Levi’s theory of Binary opposition which are films that have things
like protagonist and antagonist ( good and evil) for example, and as we are
doing the theme of gangster & crime, usually they would have binary
opposites like powerfulness and weakness or crime and justice. Films like
Twilight and Harry Potter have binary opposition as there is a hero and a
villain in these movies.