3. Introduction
• Todorov was born on March the 1st 1939 in
Sofia, Bulgaira.
• He has lived in Paris, France since 1963.
• He has published 21 books.
• He has worked in several universities such
as Harvard, Yale and Columbia.
4. His Theory
• Todorov's greatest contribution to literary theory
was his defining of the Fantastic, the fantastic
uncanny, and the fantastic marvelous. Todorov
defines the fantastic as being any event that
happens in our world that seems to be
supernatural.
5. Theory continued…
• Upon choosing whether the event was real or imaginary,
Todorov says that we enter into the genres of uncanny
and marvelous.
• In the fantastic uncanny, the event that occurs is actually
an illusion of some sort. The "laws of reality" remain
intact and also provide a rational explanation for the
fantastic event.
• He gives examples of dreams, drugs, illusions of the
senses, madness, etc. as things that could explain a
fantastic/supernatural event.
6. Todorov’s 5 Stages of
Narrative
• Stage 1
A state of equilibrium (A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced) is
defined.
Stage 2
Disruption to the equilibrium by some action or crisis.
Stage 3
The Character(s) recognise that there has been a disruption, setting goals to resolve
problem.
Stage 4
The Character(s) attempt to repair the disruption, obstacles need to be overcome to
restore order.
Stage 5
Reinstatement to the equilibrium. Situation is resolved, a conclusion is announced.
7. 5 stages explained
• We are using ‘The Hangover’ as an example to explain Todorov’s 5 stages.
• Equilibrium- Doug is getting married and they go to have a normal stag night in Las
Vegas.
• Disruption- They are drugged and then do not remember anything that happened the
night before.
• Recognising- They then realise that they have lost Doug and they need to find him
before his wedding the next day.
• Repairing- They follow clues and retrace there steps in order to find out the fate of
Doug.
• Equilibrium returned- They find Doug after he has been left on the roof of their hotel
the whole time and get him to his wedding on time.
