The document defines key narrative terms and summarizes several narrative theories. It then analyzes the Pixar film Finding Nemo using these concepts. It describes the film's chronological structure and how it uses the binary opposition of fish and humans to create conflict. It identifies the main characters according to Vladimir Propp's narrative theory and analyzes the film's plot structure based on Tzvetan Todorov's five-stage model of narrative equilibrium.

1. Key terms:
Narrative: a spoken or written account to connected events; a story
Voice: the right to express an opinion; an agency by which an opinion is expressed.
Fiction: an invented idea or narrative; an imaginary thing
Non-fiction: an interpretation of actual events; an individual version of reality.
Audience positioning: the means by which the reader hears a specific voice; how a
writer influences the reader’s perception of individuals, events and/or issues in a
narrative.
Plot: what happens in the story?
Structure is the order in which the text presents the plot.
Narrative structure: is the shape of a story or how the plot is presented/ revealed to the
audience/reader.
Chronical or linear structure: this is when the story is written in the time sequence that
it took place.
Eg. Our Day out
Multi narrative: this is when there are several voices telling the stories form different
points of views.
Eg. Small Island
Dual narrative: this is when stories run alongside each other. It may be two people
telling the same story or just two different ones that alternate.
Eg. Stone Cold
Fragmented narrative: the story is all over the place and we just get bits from the past,
present and future and have to work out the order ourselves.
Eg. Pulp Fiction
Metafictive: a story within a story within a story.
Eg. The English Patient
Narrative theory: Vladimir Propp
 The hero: the main character
 The heroine: someone who needs rescuing
 The dispatcher: who sets up the quest
 The villain: seeks riches, glory or power and also seeks to stop the hero for
succeeding in his mission
 The mentor: gives the hero important information, guidance or equipment to
help him in his quest
 The helper: accompanies the hero for most of the quest and gives valuable
support or encouragement
 The blocker: causes problems for the hero, which makes it more difficult for him
to complete his quest.
Narrative theory: Claude Levi-Strauss
Narratives structured around a series of binary oppositions
Two elements with differences to create conflict which drives the storyline

2.  Past and present
 Good and evil
 Male and female
 Humans and aliens
 Normal and strange
Narrative theory: Todorov and Equilibrium
His narrative theory focuses on plot – he believed the narratives could be divided into
five stages
1. A state of equilibrium (All is as it should be.)
2. A disruption of that order by an event.
3. A crisis that the disorder has occurred.
4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption (resolution.)
5. A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium
Finding Nemo
This film is in chronical structure and is structured around the two
opposites of ‘Fish and Humans’ to create this conflict in the narrative.
The main character in this film is Nemo; however the hero is actually
the father, Marvin. In the film he sets off on a quest in order to
rescue his son, Nemo; the heroine in this film. On the way Marvin is
accompanied by Dory who, according to the theory of Vladimir
Propp, would be the blocker as she causes many problems for him;
including leading them to the Sharks. The sharks too cause problems for Marvin as they
delay the time that he has in order to save his son from the villain, which are the
humans who have taken Nemo. There are two different mentors in this film. The first
are the sea turtles who guide Marvin and Dory onto the right track to find his son, and
the second are the fish in the tank who keep Nemo calm in this situation, and look after
him to help him escape. Dory could be classed as a helper too, as she does accompany
Marvin throughout the film and does help him find Nemo.
This film can be divided into the five stages that create a narrative according to the
theory of Todorov.
1. Nemo sets out on his first day to school with his dad, Marvin, and all is fine. Nemo is
very excited for his first day
2. Nemo’s friends dare him to go off the reef to touch the butt of the boat
3. After he touches it, he is then kidnapped/taken away from his dad and friends by
humans
4. Marvin sets off across the ocean to rescue his son, with the help from fellow aquatic
animals, but also running into trouble on his way.
5. Nemo and Marvin are reunited and go home back to their friends situation, and look
after him to help him escape. Dory could be classed as a helper too, as she does
accompany Marvin throughout the film and does help him find Nemo.