This document provides information about narrative theories and techniques that can be applied to analyzing TV crime dramas. It defines concepts like closed and open narratives, cliffhangers, red herrings, suspense, and more. It also outlines Todorov's 5-part narrative structure, Propp's character types, and Levi-Strauss' concept of binary oppositions. The document instructs students to identify these elements in a TV crime drama clip and propose applying these theories in an original one-hour crime drama episode. The overall aims are to confidently apply narrative theories, understand different techniques, and independently analyze narratives.

1. Aims
• To be confident in applying narrative theories
• To gain knowledge and understanding of a
range of different narrative techniques and be
able to apply these to a range of TV crime
dramas
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2. Todorov’s Five-Part Structure
• Match the stages of Todorov’s theory with
the description.
• Then match this to the well-known story of
‘Cinderella’.
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3. Useful Narrative Terms
Closed narrative Where the narrative has a definitive ending and all problems/crimes are solved.
Open narrative Where the narrative is open to be added on to; this could be in the form of a
sequel or a part 2. There isn’t a definitive ending.
Cliffhanger Where the narrative is left open with the audience not knowing what will happen
next. Used to keep the audience interested and in the hope that they will watch
on.
Red herring A technique where the audience or the characters are led to believe something
different; they are tricked or ‘led up the wrong garden path’.
Suspense Where a text builds up a feeling of anxiety and uncertainty about the outcome
amongst the audience. This could be through music, editing or the characters’
actions.
Multi-strand Where there are a number of different stories within one media text.
Circular narrative Where the narrative goes full circle and the ending/resolution is the same as the
beginning/equilibrium.
Montage A type of editing whereby a mixture of different shots/images, usually over time,
is edited together to give the effect that time has passed.
Prologue An introduction/preface to the narrative seen before the opening sequence.
Ellipsis A technique used to miss out big chunks of time.
Flashback A point in the story that visits the past before coming back to the present day. 3

4. Narrative Theories
• Todorov’s five-part structure
• Vladimir Propp’s character types:
– Hero
– Villain
– Princess
– The false hero
– The donor
– The princess’ father
– The helper
• Claude Levi-Strauss’ binary oppositions
– Where opposites are used to create conflict and drive the narrative
forward, e.g. man vs woman, good vs bad, police v crime.
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5. Activity
• Watch the following clip taken from a TV
crime drama.
1. Apply any relevant narrative
theories.
2. Identify any narrative techniques that have
been used.
3. Evaluate how effectively the above have
been used – this meets AO4.
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6. Your Idea
• You should write a brief five-part Todorov
structure for a possible one hour episode
of your TV crime drama.
– Write a character analysis – using Propp’s
character types.
– Make a list of possible binary oppositions
within your narrative.
– Explain how you will use three narrative
techniques within your episode.
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7. Reviewing the Aims
• To be confident in applying narrative theories
• To gain knowledge and understanding of a
range of different narrative techniques and be
able to apply these to a range of TV crime
dramas
• To be able to think independently (SEAL/PLTS)
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