Narrative theory examines how stories are communicated through media to convey meaning. There are several approaches to analyzing narratives. Vladimir Propp identified common character archetypes that often appear in stories, including heroes, villains, helpers, and false heroes. Tzvetan Todorov described a typical narrative structure as moving from equilibrium, to disruption, attempts to repair the disruption, and back to a new equilibrium. Roland Barthes identified five codes used in narratives: action, referential, semantic, enigma, and symbolic. Claude Levie-Strauss analyzed narratives in terms of binary oppositions between opposing concepts.

1. Narrative Theory
Narrative theory is the way in which media texts communicate meaning about events.
Narrative theory can be applied to a range of media including films, TV, photographs and
magazines (and also the internet such as how somebody’s social media presence creates a
narrative of their life however this may be more problematic).
Vladimir Propp (1926) studied fairy tales and said that in all types of media there are 8
characters…
 The villain.
 The hero – seeks something.
 The donor – provides an object with some magical property.
 The helper – who aids the hero.
 The princess – Reward for the hero and object of the villain’s schemes.
 Her father – who rewards the hero.
 The dispatcher – who sends the hero on his way.
 The false hero – Also lays claim to the princess but is unsuitable and causes
complications.
Tzvetan Todorov (1969)
1. Equilibrium ----------------------------------
2. Disruption |
3. Recognition of the disruption |
4. Attempt to repair the damage |
5. New equilibrium -------------------------------
Roland Barthes (1960s) - Narrative can be broken down into 5 codes in order to make more
sense of it…
 Action code – Events taking place through action
 Referential code – Refers to the information and explanation that can be inferred by
prior knowledge
 Semantic code – Refers to the characters and characterisation
 Enigma code – Narrative device, puzzle, quest or riddle to be solved. Works to delay
the story’s ending pleasurably
 Symbolic code – Refers to the connotations of signs e.g. colours
Claude Levie-Strauss (1972) came up with binary opposites, a conflict between two
opposite qualities or terms (e.g. good vs bad, domestic vs. savage and rich vs. poor.