This document discusses different narrative structures and theorists. It begins by defining narrative as story structure and devices. It describes linear and circular structures, and how Aristotle and Freytag developed basic plot structures. It then discusses narrative theorists like Todorov and his model of equilibrium, disequilibrium, resolution, and restoration. Next it links Carroll's three phase model of onset, discovery, and disruption to the horror genre. Finally, it notes Todorov also argued narratives involve an initial situation, a disruptive problem, and a resolution reinstating the initial situation.

1. NARRATIVE
INVESTIGATION
Chris Smith

2. WHAT IS NARRATIVE
• Narrative refers to the different types of story structure that genres employ as well as the actual story
telling devices and narrative moments which they are associated with.
• There are narrative structures such as the LINEAR narrative, this means that there is a clear beginning,
middle and end. AIRSTOTLE developed the basic linear structure. He observed that the middle section
may involve some crisis resolved by the end of the story.
• There is also a CIRCULAR narrative structure where the beginning is the same as the end of the film.
• Freytag developed Airstotle’s basic triangle, the idea of the plot complicating.
• The rising and falling action may vary during film trailers, typically with the slow building rising action
with an abrupt ending which usually uses a series of shot takes and fast paced editing.

3. NARRATIVE THEORISTS
• Torodov’s narrative theory states that the narrative will follow this structure;
• EQUILIBRIUM (how the place and characters begin at the beginning of the story)
• DISEQUILIBRIUM (a disruption to the equilibrium)
• RESOLUTION (plan to resolve the disequilibrium)
• RESTORATION TO THE DISEQUILIBRIUM (the story returns back to the beginning)

4. NARRATIVE THEORISTS LINKING TO THE
HORROR GENRE
• Noel Carroll maps out the traditional narrative structure of the horror genre in three stages;
• The first he names the ‘Onset Phase’ where a disorder is created, generally in the form of a monster.
• The second Carroll calls the ‘Discovery Phase’ where the characters of the story discover that the
disorder has occurred.
• The third phase he calls is the ‘Disruption Phase’ where the characters destroy the source of the
disorder and restore normality.
• This is similar to what Todorov stated, he argued that the basis of conventional narrative structure
consists of a initial situation, a problem which disrupts the situation, a resolution of the problem which
allows the reinstatement of the initial situation.