This document summarizes the work and theories of four narrative theorists: Vladimir Propp analyzed Russian fairytales and identified character roles and functions; Todorov suggested most narratives involve an initial state of equilibrium being disrupted by an outside force that must be overcome; Roland Barthes proposed narratives use five codes to engage readers; and Claude Levi examined how stories unconsciously reflect a culture's values through binary oppositions.

1. Narrative theorists

2. Vladimir Propp
• Analyzed over 100 Russian fairytales in the
1920’s
• He proposed that it was possible to classify
the characters and their actions into clearly
defined roles and functions
• Films such as Star Wars fit Propp’s model
precisely, but a significant number of more
recent films such as Pulp fiction do not.

3. Todorov
• Suggests most narratives start with a state of
equilibrium in which life is normal and
protagonists happy.
• This state of normality is disrupted by an
outside force, which has to be fought against
in order to return to a state of equilibrium

4. Roland Barthes
• Suggested that narrative works with five different
codes which activate the reader to make sense of it
• Action-a narrative device by which a resolution is
produced through action e.g a shoot out
• Enigma- a narrative device that teases the audience by
presenting a puzzle or riddle to be solved. Works to
delay the story’s ending pleasurably
• Symbolic- (connotation)
• Semic- (denotation)
• Cultural-a narrative device which the audience can
recognise as being part of a culture e.g a made man in
a gangster film is part of the mafia culture

5. Claude Levi
• Studied myths of tribal cultures
• Examined how stories unconsciously reflect
the values, beliefs and myths of a culture
• These are usually expressed in the form of
binary oppositions
• His research has been adapted by media
theorists to reveal underlying themes and
symbolic oppositions in media texts