The document discusses various narrative structures and theories. It describes linear and non-linear narratives, such as dual narratives that show two perspectives, and flashbacks that take the audience back in time. Theories discussed include Tzvetan Todorov's theory of narrative structure involving equilibrium, disruption, recognition, repair, and reinstatement of equilibrium. Vladimir Propp analyzed Russian folk tales and identified 31 narrative functions and 7 character types. Claude Levi-Strauss viewed narrative as creating binary oppositions that further the story through conceptual conflicts like love/hate.

1. Narrative
Each story has a location and setting, this may be physical and geographical. There
are a series of conventions to do with that location and many of these are typical
associated with the film’s genre and form.
Narrative is a story which describes a sequence of fictional or non-fictional events.
Narrative structure is the structural framework that emphasizes the order and manner
in which a narrative is represented to a reader, listener or viewer.
Linear narrative is narrative that flows in chronological order and goes in a logical
line, in time according to events.
Multi-narrative are when more than one event and storyline are being shown to the
audience and events are shown from multiple characters points of views.
Dual narrative is when events are shown from two different characters; this gives two
different perspectives to the same event.
Flashbacks are when the audience are taken back in time to a past event or place.
Metafictive is a story within a story within a story again
Time within a Narrative
Few stories take place in real time, so time is often manipulated within a narrative
in a number of different ways to take the audience to a different time/place.
• Flashbacks
• Dream sequences
• Repetition
• Different characters point of view
• Flash forwards
• Real time interludes
• Pre figuring of events which have yet to take place on screen.
Narrative Codes:
1. Action code and enigma code (Questions and Answers)
2. Symbols and signs
3. Cultural references
4. Simple description
Narrative Theories
Narrative theory studies the conventions that govern the organization of a story into a
sequence. It is also the organization given to a series of facts. It is
necessary to have a narrative so we can understand a story and
then we can connect events and make interpretations and
opinions based on these connections.
Tzvetan Todorov

2. Todorov is a Bulgarian philosopher who since 1963, has been writing books and
essays on literary theory, thought history and culture theory. He lives with his wife
Nancy Huston and two children in Paris, France. Todorov has published 21 books
including ‘The Poetics of Prose’, ‘Hope and Memory’, ‘The Dialogical Principle’ and
‘The Conquest of America’. Todorov focuses most of his work on historical issues
such as, the Nazi and Stalinist concentration camps. He has been a visiting professor
at several universities including, Harvard, Yale, Columbia and The University of
California. Many consider him to be one of most influential literary figures of the
time. Todorov has received a number of honours such as, the Bronze Medal of the
CNRS and the Prince of Asturias Award for Social Sciences. Todorov’s main
contribution to literary theory was the suggestion that stories begin with equilibrium
where any opposing forces are in equal balance. This is disrupted by some event,
which in turn, sets off a chain of events. These problems must be solved before order
can be restored.
Todorov’s Narrative Structure Theory-
1. A state of equilibrium with any opposing forces in balance at the beginning.
2. A disruption of the equilibrium by some action, event or force.
3. Recognition that there has been a disruption.
4. An attempt to repair the disruption.
5. Reinstatement of Equilibrium.
Vladimir Propp
Propp was a Russian scholar, who analysed basic
plot components or Russian folk tales to try and
identify their simplest narrative elements. He
focused on deconstructing narratives by studying
characters and actions, in particular 31 functions of
different character types. He was born in 1895 in St.
Petersburg and attended St. Petersburg University
studying Russian and German Philosophy. Propp then went on to teach Russian and
German at a secondary school and then taught German at a college. And then in 1928
he published his Morphology of the Folk Tale in Russia. This represented a
breakthrough in folkloristics and morphology and also influenced Claude Levi-
Strauss. His character types are often used in media education and can be applied to
any story of any genre in, literature, film, TV series and even games. In 1932 he
became a member of Leningrad University faculty and after 1938 shifted his focus of
work to folklore. He chaired the Department of Folklore and remained a faculty
member until his death in 1970.
Propp’s Narrative Structure Theory-
Functions: Absentation, Interdiction, Violation of Interdiction, Delivery, Trickery,
Complicity, Villainy, Mediation, Beginning Counter-Action, Departure, Return,
Pursuit, Rescue, Difficult Task, Exposure, Punishment, Wedding, Guidance, Struggle,
Recognition, Solution, Victory.
Some functions may be inverted.
He concluded that characters could be classified into 7 broad types from the 100 tales
he analysed:

3. 1. The Villain- who struggles against the hero.
2. The Donor- who prepares the hero.
3. The Magical Helper- who helps hero on the quest.
4. The Princess and her Father- gives hero task, rewards hero, and marries the
hero, sought for in narrative, object of villain’s schemes.
5. The Dispatcher- sends hero away.
6. The Hero/Seeker/Victim- reacts to donor, marries the princess.
7. False Hero- tries to marry the princess or take credit for hero’s actions.
Any one character can engage in more than one role.
Claude Levi-Strauss
Strauss was a French anthropologist and
ethnologist who was born in 1908 and died in
2009. His observations culminated into his
famous book ‘Tristes Tropiques’. These important
books lead to him being referred to as ‘The father
of modern anthropology’. Strauss was honoured
by universities all around the world and he held
the chair of Social Anthropology at the College de
France. His ideas stretched into the fields of
humanities and philosophy. His main theory featured around the idea that constant
creation of conflict or opposition furthers and propels the narrative. This opposition
can be visual e.g. Light/Darkness or Movement/Stillness or it could also be
conceptual Love/Hate or Control/Panic. He looked at narrative structure in terms of
binary oppositions. Binary oppositions are sets of opposite values which reveal the
structure of media texts. An example of this is Good and Evil, it is understood that
Good is the opposite of Evil. Strauss focused on looking for deeper arrangements of
themes. Strauss looked for recurring themes created by the narrative that were present
in a number of films.
For example, binary oppositions created by narrative for a science fiction film:
Earth, good, humans, past, normal, known, space, evil, aliens, present, strange and
unknown.
How does this relate to my short film?
I used many elements discussed in this section in my short film. Firstly, my short film
uses a non-linear narrative combined with flashbacks throughout the middle of the
film to develop the storyline. We also tried to combine aspects of dual narrative
between the main character and the attacker. We did this by practising and trying out
different camera shots to show the main character’s point of view and the attacker’s.
This works well to keep the audience interested, breaks up the narrative and means we
got to display a wide range of camera techniques. Todorov’s theory could also apply
to my short film as, there is a state of equilibrium at the beginning which is disrupted
through the use of flashback, and then at the end there is a reinstatement of the
equilibrium and a resolution where the audience can see the main character dealing
with her disability and coming to terms with the events. This is what most audiences
expect in to conclude the narrative.