The document summarizes several literary theories and how they relate to the movie "The Game": 1) According to Propp's theory, the main characters in "The Game" can be classified into roles like hero, villain, and helpers. The hero, Nicholas Van Orton, receives a gift that acts as the villain - a live action game called "The Game" that disrupts his life. 2) Todorov's theory describes the plot points in 5 stages - normal life, disruption, disequilibrium, overcoming barriers, new equilibrium. In "The Game", Nicholas's normal life is disrupted by receiving the game as a gift and he must overcome obstacles to find closure. 3)

1. The Game

2. Propp’s Theory
According to this theory, it is possible to classify the characters in ‘The Game’
and their actions into clear roles and functions.
The Hero, Nicholas Van Orton is given a gift for his birthday by his brother,
Conrad Van Orton who is one of the three false helpers which appear in the
movie including Christine, and Jim Feingold who try to help him reach the new
equilibrium, which is the closure of overcoming the the trauma of his father’s
suicide. This gift is ‘The Game’, which is a live action game which consumes
his life, and can be considered to be the villain. This live game started after the
helper/dispatcher Jim Feingold who acts to be working for ‘CRS’ the company
which makes the game, interviewed Nicholas Van Orton. Finally the hero is
rewarded by achieving closure at the end of the movie, which is called the
princess according to Propp’s theory.

3. Pictures Linked to Propp’s Theory
The false
helper:
Conrad Van
Orton
The game
begins
The Hero: Nicholas
Van Orton
Another Helper:
Christine

4. Todorov’s Theory
In Todorov's theory there is a model which contains 5 ot points, in a movie.The
movie starts of with Nicholas Van Orton, a wealthy, successful businessman,
living his life normally and happily. Then this equilibrium is disrupted by a
significant event when his brother gives him a gift for his birthday called ‘The
Game’. When ‘The Game’ starts, Nicholas Van Orton realises this disruption
and a state of disequilibrium is obtained. In this stage he faces many small
barriers in which he overcomes. Then the movie climax’s when Nicholas Van
Orton faces the last barrier in which has to overcome, its when he is on the
roof thinking that he will get killed and they are chainsawing the doors. Finally
the new equilibrium is when he jumps of the roof and lands in the hall, where
everyone is ready to celebrate his birthday. At this point closure is achieved
and everything is back to normal.

5. Barthes’ Theory
In his theory he suggested that narrative works with five different codes which
help the audience to make sense of it.
Enigma
‘The Game’ (Like a puzzle)
The movie is full of suspenseful scenes, there are various scenes where there is
action. One is when Nicholas Van Orton is with the girl at her house and shouts
at the camera when ‘They are watching him’, then a small group of guys
wearing masks start shooting at him and the girl, which then leads to him trying
to escape.

6. Levi-Strauss Theory
In his theory he says that in a movie there is conflict between two qualities or
terms, which is the idea of there being binary opposites. These represented
how stories unconsciously reflect the values, beliefs and myths of a culture.
In the movie ‘The Game’ there isn't a conflict between two clear groups or
people. However this idea of there being binary opposites exists and some it
can be said that at one side is Nicholas Van Orton and the other side is ‘The
Game’ itself and those running it or part of it.