This document discusses narrative theories proposed by Tzvetan Todorov and Roland Barthes. Todorov suggested that narratives follow five fundamental stages: equilibrium, disruption, realization, reparation, and restoration of equilibrium. Barthes categorized narrative codes into five ways: proairetic/action code, hermeneutic/enigma code, semantic code, cultural code, and symbolic code. The document also provides brief biographies of Todorov and Barthes, noting their contributions to structuralism, semiotics, and literary theory.

1. NARRATIVE THEORIES

2. WHAT IS NARRATIVE?
 Narrative is the way a sequence of an event is put
together and presented to the audience. It is a work of
speech that describes the sequence of fictional or non-
fictional event. It usually can be told by a character in
first person. It’s not the actual story but the way the
story has been put together.
 The methods used to communicate with the audience
from a narrator is very important for narrative.
 Narrative is different from story because story is the
plot of the film/book etc however the way it’s been put
together, the techniques and methods used are is
narrative.

3. TZVETAN TODOROV
 Tzvetan Todorov is a Bulgarian philosopher, who was
born in Bulgaria on March 1, 1939. He has lived in
France since 1963 and still lives there with his wife
Nancy Huston and his two kids. He now writes books
and essays about literacy theory, thought history and
culture theory.
 He is a visiting professor at some of the top
universities in the world which include Harvard, Yale,
Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley.
 He is a award winning philosopher, he was won
several award for his social services too.

4. TZVETAN TODOROV’S THEORY
 Todorov’s theory suggested that narrative which is any
play/book/film etc contain five fundamental stages in order
which include:
 Equilibrium – When the narrative starts of normal and
happy, there’s nothing wrong and everything is how it should
be. Everything is balanced so the audience gets to know the
characters and audience gets to learn something about their
life.
 Disruption – When some kind of event or problem changes
the atmosphere and makes it more tensed.
 Realization – When that problem is sensed by a character.
 Reparation – When there is an attempts to fix the problem.
 Restoration of Equilibrium – When the problem is solved
and there is a happy ending.

5. ROLAND BARTHES
 Roland Barthes was a French literary
theorist, philosopher, linguist and critic. He
was born on 12 November 1915 in
Cherbourg. His ideas explored a diverse
range of fields.
 He influenced the development of many
schools of theories which include
structuralism, semiotics, social
theory, anthropology and post-structuralism.

6. ROLAND BARTHES’ THEORY
 Barthes’ categorized narrative codes into five different
ways:
 Proairetic/action code– Implies to any action that
takes place during the film.
 Hermeneutic /Enigma code – Refers to any part of
the story that is not explained or left as a mystery, to
frustrate the audience and make them want to know
what’ll happen next.
 Semantic code – Any element that gives an additional
meaning. In a form of connotation.
 Cultural code – Point’s to everybody’s knowledge
onto how this world works.
 Symbolic code – Symbolism through text, to show
tensions/drama.