2. PART A – TODOROV’S THEORY
This is a sheet we
done in class where
we looked at the
disruptions/ conflicts
and resolutions in
different genres.

3. Todorov suggested there are 5 stages of
narrative:
1.Equilibrium
2.Disequlibrium
3.recognition of Disequilibrium
4.Attempt to repair disequilibrium
5.New Equilibrium
The next slides will show how Todorov’s
theory applies to the film ‘The Hunger
Games’

4. PART B: EQUILIBRIUM
• Equilibrium is shown in the beginning of the hunger games in the scene
where Katniss and Gale are out hunting and relaxing in the forest.

5. PART B: DISEQUILIBRIUM
• Disequilibrium is shown in the scene where the reaping in taking place.
• This is because in this scene Katniss’s sister is picked to go into the hunger
games but Katniss volunteers to take her sisters place and Peeta is also picked to
enter the Hunger Games.

6. RECOGNITION OF DISEQUILIBRIUM
• Recognition of disequilibrium can be found in the scene where the people taking
part in the hunger games are taken into the training room,
• It can also be found when Haymitch begins to mentor Katniss and Peeta.
• This is because in these scenes both Peeta and Katniss have accepted that they
are going into the Hunger games.

7. ATTEMPT TO REPAIR DISEQUILIBRIUM
The attempt to repair the disequilibrium can be found in the scenes where Katniss is
fighting for her life in the hunger games.
It can also be found when Katniss and Peeta meet up again and realise that they can
win and go home together.

8. NEW EQUILIBRIUM
• The new equilibrium can be found when Katniss and Peeta survive and win the
hunger games.
• This is because they have returned to their old lives, however they are not the
same as before.

9. Example of a binary
opposite.
Levi –Strauss believed the
world is described as
binary opposites and this
is the same in movies as
we always have a villain
and a hero.
The next slides will show
how this can be a applied
to a variety of genres.

10. DRAMA:
Film Opposite 1 Opposite 2 Explanation
Batman They are opposites
because:
• Batman is good he
is the hero
• The Joker is evil he
is the villain
• Batman is trying to
save Gotham
The Joker is the evil • The Joker is
Batman is the hero, villain from the destroying it
his identity is a batman movie
secret.

11. HORROR:
Film Opposite 1 Opposite 2 Explanation
Texas They are opposites
Chainsaw because:
Massacre • The man is evil and
he is trying to kill
innocent people
• The woman is
innocent and she is
trying to survive.
This woman is the
This character is evil as victim trying to
he goes around killing hide away from
innocent people the evil guy

12. ACTION:
Film Opposite 1 Opposite 2 Explanation
Mission They are opposites
because:
impossible • Ethan is working to
stop the evil forces
• The other man is a
terrorist
• Ethan is trying to
The man (Ethan) is an protect the people
American agent This man is a terrorist, who • The other man has
working against want power and money in the power to kill
terrorist and evil forces exchange for the safety of thousands if he
to protect his country the people doesn’t get what he
wants.

13. BARTHES THEORY
Barthes theory is similar to Todorov’s. Barthe says that the audiences
experiences of narrative involves anticipation and experience.
Barthe identified this by codes:
•Enigma code
•Action code
•Semantic code
•Symbolic code
•Cultural code.

14. BARTHES - ENIGMA CODE
Barthes enigma code states that narratives set up puzzles to be solved by
the audience. These puzzles intrigue and draw in the audience.
For example this scene from the film Saw
raises questions from the audience like..
Who is the person on the floor?
What happened to them?
Who are all the people in the room?

15. BARTHES - ACTION CODE
These are codes of behaviours or actions that lead the audience to expect
certain consequences.
Thriller/ Mystery Romance
Action: villain holding a knife standing Action: couple have broken up but still
behind teenage girl. miss each other
Assumption: The girl is going to die Assumption: the couple will get back
together.

16. BARTHES - SEMANTIC CODE
These are the connotative meanings of characters, locations, objects etc.

17. BARTHES - SYMBOLIC CODE
These are symbolic features which signify oppositions. This example is from the film
Harry Potter and the deathly hallows part 2.
The dark costume and evil facial expression connotes
that this group of people are the villains in this film.
These features signify opposition with the
characters on the next page as it shows that
they are one the ‘bad’ side.
This character in particular shows the symbolic
features of the ‘villains’ within films as she is
deranged and her costume is also dark and
sinister.

18. BARTHES – SYMBOLIC CODE
These are symbolic features which signify oppositions. This example is from the film
Harry Potter and the deathly hallows part 2.
In this scene from the film the statues are brought to
life to defend Hogwarts. The fact that they are
defending the school shows that the are on the ‘good’
side.
In this scene a force field is created to protect
Hogwarts from the ‘dark side’. As we can see
the shield protecting the school is a white
colour which signifies peace, good and purity.
This image shows the symbolic features of the
heroes as all the characters are illuminated in a
bright white light.

19. BARTHES SYMBOLIC CODE
Another Example from The Lord of the Rings.
Gandalf represents
good, which the
audience can tell From this picture the
because of the colour of audience can tell that this
his clothes (white) and character is the ‘villain’
his relaxed and calm because of his dark
demeanour clothes, angry facial
expression and evil
disfigured face.

20. BARTHES - CULTURAL CODE
Outside knowledge we share to bring understanding of the meaning in a text. This
often happens through references to popular culture and historical events.
The cultural code can be applied to the
film the Kings Speech because it is
based on historical events.
The King's Speech is a British
historical drama film about King
George VI ( played by Colin firth) who,
to cope with a stammer, sees Lionel
Logue.

21. PROPP’S THEORY
Propp developed a theory about the seven types of characters in traditional
classic fairy tales. He called this the ‘ seven spheres of action’ which are :
1. Hero
2. Villain
3. Dispatcher
4. Donor
5. helper
6. Heroine
7. False hero
The next slides will identify these characters in the film The hunger games.

22. PROPP – HERO
The hero is usually:
●On a quest/ search
●Traditionally male however today more female heroes are being
seen like Katniss from The Hunger Games

23. PROPP – VILLIAN
The villain :
●Opposes the hero
●Causes destruction
●And often poses a threat to the safety of the heroine.
●The ultimate villain from the hunger games would be the
president of Capitol as he is the person that created the
hunger games.
However there is another villain in the movie and this
●
would be Cato as he poses a threat to the safety of both
Katniss and Peeta.

24. PROPP - DISPATCHER
The dispatcher usually :
●Starts the hero on their way.
●Is the father of the heroine.
●In the case of The Hunger Games Cinna is the
dispatcher as he helps Katniss and prepares her for
the hunger games.

25. PROPP - DONOR
The Donor usually:
• Helps the hero by giving them a tool/gift (which
could also be advice) to help them on their
journey
• The donor in the Hunger games is Haymitch as
he helps to prepare Katniss for the hunger
games by giving her advice on what to do.

26. PROPP - HELPER
• As the name suggests the helper assists
the hero in restoring normality/ equilibrium
• Rue is the helper in the Hunger Games as
she helps Katniss when she is hurt and
takes care of her.

27. PROPP - HEROINE
• The Heroine is usually female – but not always –
and is a more passive and vulnerable character.
The heroine often falls in love with hero
• In the Hunger Games Peeta is the heroine as he
falls in love with Katniss and needed rescuing
from the Katniss.

28. PROPP – FALSE HERO
 The false hero is initially on the side of the hero but then turns against or
deceives him/her
 Tempts hero away from quest.
 There is no false hero in The Hunger Games, so an example of a false hero from
another movie would be Victor from the Underworld movie.
Victor is the false hero because:
•He lied to Selene (the hero) by telling her that
the lycans had killed her family when it had
been him.
•He tried to kill Selene and the man the she
loved.

30. DIEGESIS
The diegesis is the internal world created by the story that the characters
themselves experience and encounter.
An example of this is the film Avatar as the characters are in their own world

31. NARRATIVE RANGE –
Unrestricted narration:
An unrestricted narration is one which has no limit to the information that is
presented ( there is nothing hidden from the audience).
An example of this is the documentary March of the Penguins.

32. NARRATIVE RANGE -
Restricted narration:
Restricted narration only offers a restricted amount of information and this
may be to create enigmas. Restricted narration is usually used in
thrillers. An example of restricted narration in films is the film Texas
Chainsaw Massacre as the villain is wearing a mask which means he is
hiding his identity and the audience is unable to see who he is.

33. MODULAR NARRATIVES: ALLAN CAMERON
Allan Cameron identified four types of modular narratives which are:
• Forking path
• Episodic
• Anachronic
• Split screen
As I am doing the green level I will explain the forking path, episodic and
anachronic narrative.l

34. FORKING PATHS
Forking paths juxtapose alternate version of a story, showing the possible
outcomes that might result from small changes in a single even of group
of events.
An example of this is in the movie Sliding Doors, where the story alternates
between the character catching the train and finding her boyfriend in
bed with another woman, and the character missing the train and not
finding out about her boyfriend.
To understand this narrative better, the trailer for this film
explains how this forking path narrative is used.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsQuNu4NBmQ&safe=active

35. ANACHRONIC
This narrative involves flash-backs and flash-forwards, these narratives also
often repeat scenes directly or via a different perspective.
An example of an anachronic film is the film 4-3-2-1 as in this film the same
day is shown four times but in the perspectives of four different people.

36. EPISODIC
Episodic narratives can be organised as an abstract series or an anthology.
• Abstract series – which is structured so that all the series go in order.
• Anthology narrative – consists of a series of shorter tales which appear
to be disconnected but share a random similarity.
Episodic structure can also be described as narratives that have many
heroes with many goals. An example of this is the film Crash which is an
anthology narrative.
The film crash is episodic because:
 It features many characters that aim for their own
goals
 The characters – and their goals- are intertwined
with each other ( for example the shop owner and
the locksmith )
 Each character has their own story which doesn't
appear to be connected but is.