The document discusses narrative structure in film, emphasizing how films convey stories through ordered sequences of events tied by cause and effect. It outlines key components of narrative structure, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, while highlighting character development and conflicts. Additionally, it differentiates between diegetic and nondiegetic elements, explaining their roles in storytelling.

1. NARRATIVE
NARRATIVE
STRUCTURE IN
STRUCTURE IN
FILM
FILM
How Films Tell stories
How Films Tell stories
To identify key narrative techniques
To identify key narrative techniques

2. WHAT IS NARRATIVE FORM?
WHAT IS NARRATIVE FORM?
• Narrative form
Narrative form is the structure
is the structure
though which movies tell stories.
though which movies tell stories.
• When we speak of ‘going to the
When we speak of ‘going to the
movies,’ we almost always mean
movies,’ we almost always mean
that we are going to see a
that we are going to see a
narrative film – a film that tells a
narrative film – a film that tells a
story.
story.

3. 3
• Narratives appear throughout media and society – in novels,
Narratives appear throughout media and society – in novels,
plays, comic books, television shows and even commercials.
plays, comic books, television shows and even commercials.
• Narratives are most common in fiction film, but appear in all
Narratives are most common in fiction film, but appear in all
basic types of film
basic types of film
Narratives are Everywhere
Narratives are Everywhere

4. 4
• A narrative is an account of a string of events occurring in
A narrative is an account of a string of events occurring in
space
space and
and time
time.
.
• Narratives do not unfold randomly, but rather as an ordered
Narratives do not unfold randomly, but rather as an ordered
series of events connected by the logic of
series of events connected by the logic of cause and effect
cause and effect.
.
• This logic of cause and effect ties together
This logic of cause and effect ties together character traits
character traits,
,
goals
goals,
, obstacles
obstacles and
and actions
actions.
.
Events Occur in Space and Time
Events Occur in Space and Time

5. In Groups:
Think of a film you all know: write out all the
key events (around 10)

6. The Narrative Structure

7. The Narrative Structure
•Set Up/Exposition – meeting the characters, establishing the setting,
setting the tone – establishing the normal of the film world
•Rising Action – the central conflict is introduced and the tension
between the protagonist and the antagonist begins to mount, many
events will happen and the stakes get higher
•Climax – The climax is the turning point, which marks a change, for
the better or the worse, in the protagonist’s future.
•Falling Action – The major action has happened. This is the
aftermath . This is the sorting out of the major conflict’s resolution.
•Dénouement/Resolution – the creation of the new normal. The
conflict is resolved

8. The Narrative Structure

9. Your Turn
Draw a graph of the action in your chosen film and see if it follows the path

10. TZVETAN TODOROV
TZVETAN TODOROV

11. 11
• Typically a narrative begins with one situation (Exposition).
Typically a narrative begins with one situation (Exposition).
• A series of changes occurs according to a pattern of cause and
A series of changes occurs according to a pattern of cause and
effect.
effect.
• Finally a new situation arises – through character choice and
Finally a new situation arises – through character choice and
conflict – that restores equilibrium to the world of the story and
conflict – that restores equilibrium to the world of the story and
brings about the end of the narrative.
brings about the end of the narrative.
• The new story equilibrium almost always results in character
The new story equilibrium almost always results in character
change
change.
.
How Narrative Unfolds
How Narrative Unfolds

12. 12
1.
1. The Star Wars films
The Star Wars films begin with the
begin with the protagonist (hero)
protagonist (hero) Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
hiding from the Empire.
hiding from the Empire.
2.
2. The Empire find and kill his family
The Empire find and kill his family
3.
3. Luke Skywalker realises that he must stand up to the Empire.
Luke Skywalker realises that he must stand up to the Empire.
4.
4. Story changes that result from conflict and character choice force him into
Story changes that result from conflict and character choice force him into
a climactic showdown with
a climactic showdown with antagonist
antagonist (villain)
(villain) Darth Vader and the
Darth Vader and the
Emperor.
Emperor.
5.
5. Skywalker, Vader and the rebels triumphs and equilibrium is restored.
Skywalker, Vader and the rebels triumphs and equilibrium is restored.
6.
6. Though Luke loses his father, he changes by becoming wiser and more
Though Luke loses his father, he changes by becoming wiser and more
humble, he is a very different man by the end
humble, he is a very different man by the end
Example
Example

13. CHARACTER
CHARACTER
• Narrative films generally focus on human characters and
Narrative films generally focus on human characters and
their struggles.
their struggles.
• Characters are typically responsible for cause and effect in
Characters are typically responsible for cause and effect in
narrative.
narrative.

14. CHARACTERS
CHARACTERS
• Think of some of your favourite films
Think of some of your favourite films
• Who would you describe as ‘flat’ characters
Who would you describe as ‘flat’ characters
• Who would you describe as ‘rounded’ characters
Who would you describe as ‘rounded’ characters
• So what do we mean by these words?
So what do we mean by these words?
Film Flat Round

15. CHARACTERS
CHARACTERS
• Storytellers use different types of characters
Storytellers use different types of characters
to tell their stories
to tell their stories
• Flat
Flat: minor characters who do not go through
: minor characters who do not go through
any substantial change throughout the story or
any substantial change throughout the story or
have much substance to them (think stereotypes)
have much substance to them (think stereotypes)
• Round:
Round: More fully developed characters who
More fully developed characters who
may experience a change during the story
may experience a change during the story

16. DEVELOPING CHARACTERS
DEVELOPING CHARACTERS
How do writers develop
How do writers develop round, dynamic
round, dynamic characters?
characters?
Through conversations with other characters
Through conversations with other characters
Through group associations
Through group associations
Through direct description of that character
Through direct description of that character
Through reactions to
Through reactions to conflict
conflict

17. 17
CHARACTER TRAITS
CHARACTER TRAITS
• Traits
Traits are attitudes, skills, habits, tastes,
are attitudes, skills, habits, tastes,
psychological drives and any other qualities that
psychological drives and any other qualities that
distinguish a character.
distinguish a character.
• Traits in opening scenes are relevant to later
Traits in opening scenes are relevant to later
scenes; this is related to cause and effect.
scenes; this is related to cause and effect.

18. 18
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
• In
In The Empire Strikes Back
The Empire Strikes Back, Luke’s character traits are
, Luke’s character traits are
introduced early on and pay off in later scenes.
introduced early on and pay off in later scenes.
• They include his knowledge of the Force, his survival
They include his knowledge of the Force, his survival
skills, his ability with a light saber, and his
skills, his ability with a light saber, and his
impetuousness.
impetuousness.

19. CHARACTER TRAITS
CHARACTER TRAITS
• Think of the rounded characters you came up with
Think of the rounded characters you came up with
before.
before.
• What character traits did they have and how did
What character traits did they have and how did
these traits ‘pay off’ later in the film.
these traits ‘pay off’ later in the film.

20. CHARACTER: GOALS AND OBSTACLES
CHARACTER: GOALS AND OBSTACLES
• Goals might include locating treasure, choosing a
Goals might include locating treasure, choosing a
foster parent or looking for love.
foster parent or looking for love.
• Characters encounter
Characters encounter obstacles
obstacles in pursuing these
in pursuing these
goals – the collision of goals and obstacles create
goals – the collision of goals and obstacles create
conflict and thus drama.
conflict and thus drama.

21. CHARACTER: CHOICES
CHARACTER: CHOICES
• Characters create cause and effect through
Characters create cause and effect through choices
choices
that lead to conflict and consequences.
that lead to conflict and consequences.
• These patterns are designed so that the viewer clearly
These patterns are designed so that the viewer clearly
sees and understands them.
sees and understands them.
• Characters posses traits, face conflicts, make choices
Characters posses traits, face conflicts, make choices
and undergo changes that enable or hinder pursuit of
and undergo changes that enable or hinder pursuit of
a specific
a specific goal
goal.
.

22. CHARACTERS – GOALS,
CHARACTERS – GOALS,
CHOICES, OBSTACLE
CHOICES, OBSTACLE

23. CHARACTERS – GOALS,
CHARACTERS – GOALS,
CHOICES, OBSTACLE
CHOICES, OBSTACLE
• What goals and obstacles did your characters face?
What goals and obstacles did your characters face?

24. CONFLICT – CENTRAL TO ANY NARRATIVE
CONFLICT – CENTRAL TO ANY NARRATIVE
Relational Conflict - This is conflict between characters
over goals and how to achieve goals.
Inner Conflict - This is conflict within a character. It could
be concerned with their self esteem, insecurities or
uncertainties.
Societal – This is conflict between a person and a group.
This group could be a government, a gang, family, the army,
or a country for example.
Situational – This is conflict that develops as a result of a
situation. Disaster films use this style of conflict a lot.
Cosmic – This is conflict between the main character and a
supernatural force e.g. God or a universal Good vs Evil idea.

25. CONFLICT
CONFLICT
Relational Conflict
Inner Conflict
Societal
Situational
Cosmic

26. CONFLICT
CONFLICT
• Choose one character/ film you have been
Choose one character/ film you have been
working on and make a list of all the conflict
working on and make a list of all the conflict
they have been involved in.
they have been involved in.

27. 27
DIEGETIC VS. NONDIEGETIC ELEMENTS
DIEGETIC VS. NONDIEGETIC ELEMENTS
• Diegetic
Diegetic elements are everything that exists in the world that
elements are everything that exists in the world that
the film depicts – including everything implied off-screen:
the film depicts – including everything implied off-screen:
settings, sounds, characters, events.
settings, sounds, characters, events.
• Nondiegetic
Nondiegetic elements are elements within the film, but not
elements are elements within the film, but not
within the film’s world, such as credits, music or voice-over
within the film’s world, such as credits, music or voice-over
narration.
narration.
• Characters are unaware of these elements.
Characters are unaware of these elements.
• A director can use nondiegetic elements to suggest narrative
A director can use nondiegetic elements to suggest narrative

28. 28
“
“Filmmakers use non-diegetic elements for several
Filmmakers use non-diegetic elements for several
reasons: they may draw attention to aspects of the
reasons: they may draw attention to aspects of the
narrative from a position outside the story, they
narrative from a position outside the story, they
communicate with the audience directly, and they
communicate with the audience directly, and they
engage viewers on an emotional level.”
engage viewers on an emotional level.”
• Pramaggiore and Wallis,” Narrative Form”
Pramaggiore and Wallis,” Narrative Form”

29. 29
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
• Examples of non-diegetic narrative elements
Examples of non-diegetic narrative elements
include:
include:
• The voice-over in
The voice-over in The Shawshank Redemption
• The opening “crawl” of text in
The opening “crawl” of text in Star Wars
• The opening credits of
The opening credits of Seven