Narrative theory

We looked at a variety of narrative theory's and how we could probably use them in out coursework. here are the four we studied:


Tzvetan Todorov - Bulgarian theorist reduced the concept of narrative to a simple recurring formula

Equilibrium----Disequilibrium----New Equilibrium

A narrative starts with a state of equilibrium or harmony for instance a peaceful community getting on with and enjoying life. A firm sense of social order is established. Into this world of stability comes a force of disequilibrium or disruption, an evil outsider intent on destroying the sense of well being. By so mechanism such as a one gunfighter, the force of evil is overcome and order and harmony in the form of a new equilibrium are restored


Vladmir Propp - Russian structuralist studied fairy tales and established a number of character types and events associated with them


He called these events 'functions' and suggested their number was limited to 31. his work has been related to film and media studies, and it is possible to use his theory to fit the character types in a range of texts, especially feature films.


Typical Functions:

• The Hero
• The villain
• The donor ( offers gift with magical properties)
• The dispatcher (sends hero on mission)
• The helper (aids hero)
• The princess ( hero's reward)

Claude Levi-Strauss- social anthropologist, studied myths of tribal cultures and examined how stories unconsciously reflect the values, beliefs & myths of a culture.


These are usually expressed in the form of binary oppositions ( conflict between two qualities or terms e.g. night/day, good/bad, light/dark)


Roland Barthes- French semiologist. suggested that narrative works with five different codes which activate the reader to make sense of it. also used the terms denotation & connotation to analyse images.


Barthes codes 

• Action- a narrative device 
• Semic- ( denotation) 
• Enigma - teases the audience by presenting a puzzle or riddle 
• Symbolic - ( connotation) 
• Cultural - audience can recognise as being part of the Mafia culture