1. Narrative
“ the way in which a story is told in
both fictional and non fictional media
texts”

2. Narrative/sto
ry
Story = the story is the actual
sequence of events, it is the plot
Narrative = the way the events are
put together and presented to the
audience

3. Narrative
structure
• Linear – look at media
knowall, difference between story
and narrative, different codes
Middle
Beginning End
(introduction to (events happen
characters and story) (closure)
– story builds)

4. Open structure – the audience are
left to wonder what happens next –
use their own initiative. Barthes
would say these texts could be
interpreted in a multitude of ways
Closed structure – has a clear ending
and conclusion. This kind of
narrative is much more
straightforward, and would only
be interpreted in a limited number
of ways.

5. • Circular structure – the narrative
begins at the end events, and takes
the audience on a journey back
through the narrative, back to
where they started again, at the
end. For example The Sixth
Sense, Pulp fiction.

6. Vladimir
Propp
• Was a russian literary theorist
working in the 1920’s
• He suggests that the characters from
texts can be classified into clearly
defined roles.
• This was based on russian
fairytales, and so can be seen as
outdated or irrelevant to some
media texts. Modern narratives are
often more sophisticated and aim to
unconventional
• However, it is often seen in

7. Propp’s character
roles
• The hero (seeks something)
• The villain (opposes the hero)
• The donor (helps the hero by
providing a magic object)
• The dispatcher (sends the hero on his
way)
• The false hero (falsely assuming the
role of hero)
• The helper (gives support to the hero)
• The princess (the reward for the
hero, but also needs protection from
the villain)

8. Todorov
• Was a bulgarian literary theorist
• He suggested that most narratives start with a
state of “equilibrium”, in which the protagonist
is happy
• This is then disrupted
• Then equilibrium is restored
New
equilibrium disequilibrium
equilibrium

9. Equilibrium: (sets the scene) Everyday Life
Disruption: (complication) Something
happens to alter the equilibrium
Conflict: (climax) Trying to solve the
problem (seek resolution)
Resolution :Problem is sorted
New Equilibrium: (satisfactory end)
Back to normal (but never the same)- a
new normal

10. Levi Strauss
• Strauss described narrative as
created by a conflict of binary
oppositions. These could be:
• Love/hate
• Peace/war - avatar
• Rich/poverty - titanic
• Man/alien – all alien films
• Strong/weak
• Light/dark
• Good/evil

11. Roland
Barthes
• Barthes argued that narrative works through a
series of codes that are used to control the
way in which information is given to the
audience.
• Enigma Code: A narrative device that teases the
audience by presenting a puzzle or riddle to be
solved. For example is the hero going to
survive.
• Action Code: A narrative device by which a
resolution is produced through action, for
example a shoot out. The action code is often