Narrative theory proposes that stories are organized as a causal chain of events unfolding over time, from a beginning to a middle and an end. Theorists have identified common narrative structures, such as Propp's character archetypes like the hero and villain, and Tzvetan Todorov's model of equilibrium being disrupted, the disruption being recognized, an attempt to repair the damage, and a new equilibrium. Roland Barthes identified five codes that most narratives can be broken down into: action, referential, semantic, enigmatic, and symbolic. Claude Levi-Strauss analyzed how binary oppositions like conflicts between qualities drive narratives. Later theorists explored nonlinear narrative forms.

1. Narrative theory
Narrative isdefinedasachainof eventsina cause and effectrelationshipoccurringintime.
Bordwell andtompson
Narrative isa way of organisingspatial andtemporal eventsintoacause effectchainof eventswith
beginningamiddle andendthatthatembodiesajudgmentaboutthe nature of events.
Baingan’s keypointisthatthe narrative will embodyajudgement.
Proppwas a Russiantheoristwhosuggeststhatthere are a limitednumberof charactertypesthat
share a function.
The villain
The hero
The donor
The helper
The princess
Her father
The dispatcher
The false hero
TzvetanTodorov1969
1. Equilibrium
2. Disruptionof the equilibrium
3. Recognitionof the disruption
4. An attempttorepairthe damage
5. Newequilibrium
RolandBarthes1960s
His narrative theoryclaimsthata narrative can be brokendowninto5 codesandthat most things
that we watch can be brokenintothe 5 codes.
Actioncode whichreferstothe eventstakingplace throughoutaction.
Referential code whichreferstothe informationandexplanation.
Semanticcode whichreferstothe characters andcharacterisation
Enigmacode whichis a narrative device thatteasesthe audience bypresentingapuzzle orriddle to
be solved.
Symboliccode whichreferstothe connotationsof signs
Claude Levi-Strauss1972
Binaryoppositesare conflictsbetweentwoqualitiesorterms.
AllenCameron1990s

2. Anachronic- modifiedflashbacks/flash-forwardsnocleardominance betweennarrativethreads.
Forkingpath- alternative versionsof the story outcomesthatmightresultinslightchanges
Episodic- collectionof storiesjoinedbyacommon theme
Splitscreen- spatial ratherthantemporal lines.