Narrative Theory

      Key Terms

Narrative- A narrative is the relation between a series of events it is the way the story is told.
Story- The story is the strict chronological order in which the events occur.
Plot- Plot is the order in which the charters find out about these events.

Roland Barthes- Media texts are constructed using a series of codes. These codes help the audience to understand what is going on.

Action code- When we see an action in a text we anticipate what consequences will follow. For example: Dirty Ol' 'Arry

Enigma Code- When we encounter plot elements that raise questions on the part of the reader of a text.

Claude Levi-Strauss- constant creation of conflict/opposition propels narrative and narrative can only end on resolution of conflict.

Tzvetan Todorov- narratives follow a typical form of equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium.

His theory:
- A state of equilibrium ( all is as should be)
-A disruption of that order by an event
-A recognition that the disorder has occurred
-An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption
-A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium

Vladimir Propp Character Types

1. The villain — struggles against the hero.

2. The donor — prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.

3. The (magical) helper — helps the hero in the quest.

4. The princess and her father — gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished.

5. The dispatcher — character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.

6. The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.

7. [False hero] — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess