The document discusses Tzvetan Todorov's theories on narrative structure. It states that Todorov divides a conventional narrative into three acts: a beginning, middle, and end. The beginning establishes equilibrium in the story world, the middle contains events that disrupt this equilibrium and introduce disequilibrium, and the end achieves a new state of equilibrium by resolving the conflicts introduced in the middle.
2. Narrative refers to the formal aspects used in order to
tell a story.
A story is the narration of a series of events
conveniently organised in a timeline, in order to make
sense.
3. A conventional narrative
is divided in three acts:
beginning, middle and
end)
The most conventional
narrative structure is
that of a linear narrative
(chronological order)
with a closed ending
(resolution of the
conflict/end)
4.
5. Plot
Story
Narrative The way in which the story is actually told. The
formal aspects of the storytelling.
A form of text, regardless of medium, describing a
sequence of events, caused and experienced by
characters, conveniently structured into a time
sequence in order to make sense.
Elements and generic conventions from which the
story will be made.
6. Plot
Story
Narrative The way in which the story is actually told. The
formal aspects of the storytelling.
A form of text, regardless of medium, describing a
sequence of events, caused and experienced by
characters, conveniently structured into a time
sequence in order to make sense.
Elements and generic conventions from which the
story will be made.
7. Plot
Story
Narrative The way in which the story is actually told. The
formal aspects of the storytelling.
A form of text, regardless of medium, describing a
sequence of events, caused and experienced by
characters, conveniently structured into a time
sequence in order to make sense.
Elements and generic conventions from which the
story will be made.
8. Plot
Story
Narrative The way in which the story is actually told. The
formal aspects of the storytelling.
A form of text, regardless of medium, describing a
sequence of events, caused and experienced by
characters, conveniently structured into a time
sequence in order to make sense.
Elements and generic conventions from which the
story will be made.
9. TzvetanTodorov (born March
1, 1939) is a Franco-bulgarian
philosopher. His main field of
work is literary theory, culture
theory and thought history.
His most significant essay on
narrative theory is Introduction
à la littérature fantastique
(1970), translated by Richard
Howard as The Fantastic: A
Structural Approach to a
Literary Genre in 1973.
10. The terms used byTodorov to define the three main parts of
a conventional narrative structure are:
Equilibrium – the balanced normality of the world previous
to the story.
Disequilibrium – Disruption/Recognition of disruption.
The unbalanced world between the
problem and the climax.
New Equilibrium – Attempt to repair/Reinstatement. A
return to normality at the end –
returning the world to balanced state.