1. Michael wells 08/10/14
Narrative theory
Narrative is defined as “a chain of events in a cause effect relationship occurring in time”
(Bordwell and Thompson)
Narrative has a beginning middle and end that embodies a judgement about the nature of
events (Branigan)
Theorists
1. Vladimir prop (1928)
8 Returning characters (archetype)
Villain
Hero
The donor – gives the hero help e.g. giving equipment
The helper – aids the hero
The princess – The prize at the end
Her father – gives his daughter to the hero
The dispatcher – send the hero on the journey
The false hero – we think that he’s the hero but he’s not the true hero e.g. unsuitable for the
princess
2. Tzvetan Todorov (1969)
Equilibrium > disequilibrium > resolution > (new equilibrium)
Balance > unbalance > new balance
3. Roland Barthes (1960s)
Narratives can be broken down into 5 codes
Action codes – some form of action
Enigma code – puzzle or riddle that is introduced
Semantic code – characters and characterisation (how people change throughout the film)
Referential code – refers to the information and explanation
Symbolic code – refers to the connotation of signs (what we infer)
4. Claude Levi-Strauss (1972)
Binary opposite’s e.g. Poor vs rich, good vs bad
His research has been adapted by theorists to reveal underlying themes and symbolic oppositions
