1. Theories of Narrative
The aim of this powerpoint is to
introduce you to some key theorists
and ideas in the study of narrative.

2. Definitions of Narrative…
Narrative: The story - what
happens or what is depicted,
actions, events and characters.
Narration: How the story is told,
how the information is presented to
viewers, e.g. visual style and point
of view the story is told from.

3. Narrative structure
 Linear/Chronological
 Non Linear – Pulp Fiction, Memento
 Cyclical – Groundhog day/Run Lola
Run
 Cause and effect – often motivated by
the needs and wishes of the characters.
 Single/Multiple viewpoints – who is
telling us the story?

4. Omniscient/Restricted Narration
 Restricted narration –we see an event
through the viewpoint of only one
person. This can add surprise as we
only discover events alongside them
 Omniscient narration – when we see
events from multiple viewpoints. This
can add suspense as we are privy to
information other characters are not.

5. Tvzetan Todorov
 Franco-Bulgarian
philosopher who
coined the term
narratology = to
look at units of
meaning in a text
 Claimed all stories
had a basic structure
based on
equilibrium

6. Traditional/Hollywood Narrative
 Equilibrium (sense of order/calm)
 A disruption of this equilibrium by an event
 A realisation that a disruption has
happened
 An attempt to repair the damage of the
disruption
 A restoration of the equilibrium which may
be a new or changed one

7. Roland Barthes
 French critic
 Identifies 5 ‘codes’ of
narrative
 Proairetic code
 Hermeneutic code
 Cultural code
 Semic code
 Symbolic code

8. The Hermeneutic Code
 Thiscode poses questions or enigmas
which provide narrative suspense.
 As audiences the unravelling of these
codes and thinking about the questions
posed by events provide viewing
pleasure
 Use this when thinking about the
narrative of a film trailer

9. Vladimir Propp
 Russian
 The Morphology of
the Folk Tale (1928)
 Stated that all
fairytales have
common narrative
structures and
character functions

10. 31 Functions of Fairytales
 Propp identified 31 key functions in his
analysis of Russian folktales
 Not all 31 had to be present, however,
they did always follow the same
sequential order
 These functions were performed by one
of 8 main character types that advanced
the action

11. Claude Levi-Strauss
 Argued that meaning in
narratives is based on
binary oppositions. He
was less interested in
the arrangement
(syntagmatic) of the
narrative than in the
deeper meaning
(paradigmatic)of themes

12. Binary Oppositions
 Binary oppositions are opposite values that
reveal the structure of media texts.
 It is important to look at the denotations (literal
meaning) and connotations (cultural
significance) of the sign.

13. Binary Oppositions
Hero Coward
Natural Artificial
Good Evil
Male Female
Rational Emotional
Strong Weak
Day Night
Appearance Reality
Man Alien/Machine
/technology

14. Summary
 TODOROV’S structure theory of equilibrium,
disequilibrium, new equilibrium
 PROPP’S THEORY –8 character types, 31 Functions
in Folktales
 BARTHES’ ENIGMA CODE –the narrative functions
to establish and then solve mysteries. (Trailers)
 LEVI-STRAUSS’ BINARY OPPOSITION – Themes
Narrative tension is based on opposition or
conflict. but more often functions at an ideological
level – e.g., in Sci-fi what do the aliens and people
each represent?

15. References
 Barry, P (1995) Beginning Theory. Manchester: Manchester
University Press.
 Fell, J.L. (1977) ‘Vladimir Propp in Hollywood’ in Film Quarterly.
Vol. 30, No.3pp19-28
 Propp, Vladimir. (1928) Morphology of the Folk Tale. Excerpts
available from:
http://homepage.mac.com/allanmcnyc/textpdfs/propp.pdf
 Todorov, Tzvetan & Weinstein, Arnold. (1969) ‘Structural Analysis
of Narrative’ in NOVEL: A Forum on Fiction. Vol. 3, No 1, pp70-
76
 Todorov, Tzvetan. (1971) ‘The 2 Principles of Narrative’ in
Diacritics. Vol. 1, no 1, pp37-44.
 Whalen, Tom. (2000) ‘Run Lola Run’ in Film Quarterly. Vol. 53,
No.3, pp33-40.