This document discusses Todorov's narrative theory and how it applies to newspaper articles. Todorov's theory outlines five stages in a narrative: 1) Equilibrium, 2) Disruption, 3) Recognition of Disruption, 4) Repair of Disruption, and 5) New Equilibrium. Newspaper articles often follow this structure by introducing a subject, describing an event that affects them, how they deal with the effect, and the outcome. An example is provided of a girl who falls ill with cancer, undergoes treatment, and recovers.

1. Narrative Theory -
Todorov
LUCY JONES

2. Narrative’s importance
Even though newspapers are non-fiction
texts, narrative theory is used to create
the articles that are included. This is
because they are typically structured as
stories, especially considering that
journalists often stretch the truth to make
it a better read for their audience.
Newspapers use certain elements of story-
telling from narrative theories to deliver
the stories to their readers.

3. Todorov’s Theory
Todorov’s theory discusses the events that are featured in a narrative. These are:
1. Equilibrium: This is used to set the scene. This gives information to the
reader of what life is like for the main character before they’re affected.
2. Disruption: Something
happens that has an effect on
the equilibrium creating the
start of the story.
3. Recognition of
Disruption: This is
when the
character notices
the disruption
4. Repair of Disruption:
The character finds it
difficult to deal with the
disruption, but restores
equilibrium.
5. New/Second/Re-equilibrium:
This is when the disruption is over
come. The equilibrium is a new
situation that is either similar,
better or worse than the first one

4. How this applies to newspapers
This applies to newspapers as many have
used this technique (may be used loosely)
in their articles/stories. Many stories
describe some ones situation who then
encounters something that alters this. They
then go on to describe what has happened,
the effect on the person and how it has
changed what their situation was
previously. Finally the person (or someone
else) does something about the disturbance
restoring them back to a more normal
situation. The new situation can however
can be positive or negative.

5. Example
1. There is a
8 year old
girl living a
happy life at
home with
her family.
2. She starts
to fall ill and
after a visit to
the doctors
and hospital
she gets
diagnosed
with cancer.
3. The girl
begins to
deteriorate
and her and
her family
are very
upset.
4. The girl
undergoes a lot
of treatment
which is putting
a lot of stress on
her body and
causes hair loss
etc however she
begins to get
better.
5. The young
girl finishes
her
treatment
and is given
the all clear
by the
doctor.