The document summarizes Tzvetan Todorov's narrative theory of a five-stage structure for narratives: 1) Equilibrium, 2) Disruption, 3) Recognition, 4) Attempts to repair disruption, and 5) Return to a new equilibrium. It then applies these stages to analyze a specific episode of the TV show Friends. Finally, it outlines Vladimir Propp's theory of 7 character archetypes that typically appear in folktales, such as The Hero, The Villain, etc. and applies these to the plot of the movie Spiderman: Homecoming.

1. Tzvetan Todorovs
narrative theory

2.  Todorovs narrative theory suggest that all narratives follow a three part
structure where they begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced,
progress as something comes along to disrupt the equilibrium, and finally
reach a resolution, when equilibrium is restored.

3. The five stages
 1.Equilbrium-The state of balance in the narrative, where we get to know
the characters and heir situation
 2.Disruption-Oppositional characters are introduced and the story moves
forward
 3.Recognition-Where the story develops, different events and characters
become involved and more drama occurs.
 4.Attempts to repair disruption-Where there may be a twist or climatic
point
 5.Return to new equilibrium-The problem is solved and harmony is
resolved, though things may have changed.

4. Friends Season 7 episode 13

5. The 5 stages
 Phoebe Buffay, Monica Geller, and Chandler Bing are introduced in a café
where Chandler and Monica find out that their dad is selling their house.
Phoebe is sitting next to them and wonders what happened to the
windows.
 The disruption-Phoebe gets a new job in the office to sell toners. She then
calls a supplies manger and finds out that he is planning on killing himself.
 The recognition –Phoebe realizes that the manager is serious and she does
not want the supplies manager to kill himself, the manager tells phoebe
that he is is planning on killing himself because the people who work with
him don’t even notice him or even care about him.
 Repair- Phoebe talks to the manager and tries to convince him to not kill
himself

6. Propp and character

7. Vladimir Propp
 He was a Soviet folklorist and scholar who analyzed the basic plot
components of Russian folk tales to be able to identify irreducible narrative
elements.
 Propp identifies a sequence of narrative elements that are typicaly found in
Russian fairy tales
 The hero, The villain, The donor, The princess, The helper, The princess
father, and the false hero.

8. The 7 characters
 1.The hero-Leads the narrative and is usually looking for something. A quest or he/she is
trying to solve something. Example: Harry Potter
 2.The villain- Has a conflict with the hero and tries to stop them from succeeding.
Example: Thanos from infinity war
 3.The donor-Gives the hero something which helps them complete their quest. Example:
Obiwan from star wars
 4.The princess- Is usually a prize or reward for the hero. If the hero is female, there can
be a price but its unusual. Example: Princess Leia from start wars
 5.The helper- Helps the hero, often acts like a sidekick. Example: Han solo from star wars
 6.The princess father-An authority figure who offers a reward to the hero for completing
their quest. That reward might be a prince, princess or in more modern narratives, a car.
Example: Tony stark from spider-man homecoming
 7. The false hero- Takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.
Example: Syndrome from the incredibles

9. Spiderman homecoming
 1. The hero- Spiderman/ peter parker is looking into the villain (vulture) who
steals advanced weaponry.
 2.The villain- Vulture steals advanced weaponry, he stole aa flying exo suit and
spent four years stealing weaponry to sell on the black market. He also tries to
hunt down Spiderman
 3. The donor- Tony stark gives peter parker a new and advanced spiderman
suit to help him with his quest
 4.The princess- Liz (Peter parkers crush) is the reward that spiderman gets after
saving her a couple of times
 5.The helper- Ned is spidermans best friend who helps him with his suit and
other missions throughout the movie
 6. The princess father-Tony stark lets spiderman join the Avengers at the end
of the movie, as a reward for completing his quest.
 7.The false hero-Vulture- thinks he is saving the world.