Narrative theory analyzes how stories are structured and conveyed. Vladimir Propp analyzed Russian fairy tales and identified character roles like the hero, villain, and donor that provide help. Todorol's narrative theory states that most stories follow a pattern of equilibrium, disruption, realization, restored order, and final equilibrium. Roland Barthes identified five codes that activate the reader's understanding of narratives: action, enigma, symbolic, semic, and cultural.

1. NarrativeTheory

2. What is Narrative ?
Narrative is a spoken or written account of connected events; a
story. a spoken or written account of connected events; Narrative is
the media term for story telling. is the way the different elements in
a story are organized to make a meaningful story a story.
• TV Programme’s
• Novels or Short Stories
• Films
• Advertisements
• News in papers or onTV & Radio
• ViaThe internet
• Gossip

3. NarrativeTheory
human beings.
story telling

4. Vladimir Propp (1928)
• Vladimir Propp was a theorist from Russia.
• Propp analyzed over 100 Russian fairytales in 1920’s
• Films like StarWars they fit Propp’s Model precisely, but a significant number of more recent films do not.
• He proposed that it was possible to classify the characters and their actions into clearly defined roles and functions.
• Props Character Roles :
• The Hero (seeks something)
• The villain ( opposes the hero )
• The Donor ( Helps the hero by providing a magic object )
• The Dispatcher ( sends the hero on his way )
• The False Hero ( Falsely assuming the role of hero )
• The Helper ( Gives support to the hero )
• The Princess (The reward for the hero )

5. Todorov’s NarrativeTheory
literacy theorist
• Todorov’s narrative theory basically states that most story’s or plot
lines follow the same pattern.
• There are 5 steps.
• Equilibrium
• A Disruption
• Realization
• Restored Order
• Equilibrium Again

6. Roland Barthes
French Semiologist
• He suggested that narrative works with five different codes which activate the
reader to make sense of it.
• Barthes Codes
• Action- A narrative device by which a resolution is produced through action,
e.g. a shoot out
• Enigma- A narrative device that teases the audience by presenting a puzzle or
riddle to be solved.Works to delay the story’s ending pleasurably.
• Symbolic – Connotation
• Semic – Denotation
• Cultural – Is a narrative device which the audience can recognize as being part
of a culture e.g. a “ Made man” in a gangster film is part of the mafia culture