3. Narrative
• Narrative is the media term given to the story
within a media product.
• There are lots of narrative types and theories
about how narratives work.
5. Put this in your book
Linear A narrative that moves in order.
Start-middle-end.
Non-Linear A narrative in a non-typical order.
May use flashbacks/flash-forwards.
Open A narrative which stretches into many
episodes.
Closed A narrative that is concluded with a
definite end.
Narrator A voice or person that introduces and
guides the story.
6. Vladimir Propp – Narrative Characters
Propp studied many folk and
fairy tales and came up with
his theory that many of the
characters are repeated in
every narrative.
He said there are 7
character types.
7. 7 Character types
• the hero, who departs on a search (seeker-hero),
reacts to the donor and weds.
• the villain, who struggles with the hero .
• the donor, who informs the hero of his task.
• the helper, helps the hero.
• the Princess, a sought-for person (and/or her
father), who exists as a goal and often marries
hero.
• the dispatcher, sends the hero forwards in a
mission.
• the false hero, who claims to be the hero, often
acting like a real hero (ie by trying to marry the
princess).
8. Complete the grid to identify the characters.
Some characters might fit more than one
type.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qapaq
cDucmg
9. CHARACTER TYPES IN ALADDIN ACCORDING
TO PROPP
The hero- Aladdin
The villain- Jafar
The donor- Jafar (takes Aladdin to the Cave of
Wonders)
The helper- Genie, Abu and The Magic Carpet
The princess- Jasmine/ Her father- the Sultan
The dispatcher- the Genie (granting wishes)
The false hero- Jafar (appears to help the Sultan)
10. Warning! The next slide contains ridiculous 1970s pants!
These characters may appear in media
other than moving image…
Lets look at a print advert.
12. Watch the short film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ6e
eAjgSZI
Evaluate and explain the narrative type
and any of prop’s roles you can see within
the film.
Bronze Silver Gold
State key narrative
features of the film.
Describe narrative
components of the film.
Explain and evaluate the
narrative components in
the film.
13. What you could have said
• The narrative is simple, closed and linear. It is
a short narrative and easily understood for
this reason.
• It also suits a younger audience due to
narrative simplicity and as it is animation.
• Initially the main dust bunny is in the role of
‘princess’, needing help from the larger bunny.
• This role reverses when the smaller dust bunny
becomes the ‘hero’– saving the others.
• The ‘villain’ within the film is the maid/hoover
as this poses the threat to the characters
existence.
