This document summarizes several narrative theories:
1. Todorov's 5 stages of narrative include equilibrium, disequilibrium, recognition of disequilibrium, attempt to restore order, and new equilibrium.
2. Levi-Strauss believed in binary opposites like good/evil, light/dark that are present in narratives.
3. Barthes identified 5 codes that shape narratives - the enigma code, action code, semantic code, symbolic code, and cultural code.
4. Propp identified 7 character types that commonly appear in folktales and fairy tales - the hero, villain, dispatcher, donor, helper, heroine, and false hero.
2. Part A- Todorv
Todorv suggested there’s 5 stages of narrative.
1. Equilibrium – which is basically normality.
2. Disequilibrium – conflict by an action or event.
3. Recognition of disequilibrium – main struggle.
4. Attempt to restoration the harm
5. New equilibrium.
3. Equilibrium Disequilibrium Recognition of Attempt to New equilibrium
disequilibrium restoration the
harm
In this scene, Landon Landon gets in Landon unexpectedly Landon decides to After Jamie’s death,
is enjoying his time trouble with the falls in love with propose to Jamie Landon’s life change
with his friends as he police due to his Jamie, and finds out since he knows she completely and he
usually does. actions. she has cancer. wants to get married learnt new norms and
before she dies. values towards life.
5. Film Opposite 1 Opposite 2 Explanation
Good – Rob Pattinson Evil – Christoph Waltz Both male, however one
represents evil and the other
represents good.
Innocence – Jennifer Lawrence Violation – Max Thieriot Both characters are opposite
sex, however, one is innocent
and the other one is violent
(evil).
Hero – Andrew Garfield Villain – Rhys Ifans As a usual action movie,
there’s good vs bad, and
there’s also hero vs the
villain.
6. Part C: Barthes
For Barthes there is 5 important codes, which
are:
• Enigma code
• Action code
• Semantic code
• Symbolic code
• Cultural code
7. Enigma code
By enigma code, Barthes means, that instead of giving the
audience answers, the film just leaves them questioning making
the audience paying more attention to the film.
For example, in this image from ‘The Lucky
One’, it doesn’t show what the character is
looking at on the laptop screen, making the
audience paying more attention to the film.
8. Action code
The action code is when the character’s action or behaviour
leads to a consequence to what the audience expects to
happen, or what normally happens in a film.
In these screen grabs, Rose realises she was
wrong and she wants to be with Jack and
they kiss, just like the audience would
expect them too.
9. Semantic code
The semantic code is the meaning of the objects, characters,
locations. Sometimes we learn this with experience from a young
age, for example we know the hero will be a handsome guy, and
the villain would be a unattractive guy.
As you can see the hero’s from a
young age, are charming and very
handsome, where as the villains are
scary and unattractive.
10. Symbolic code
A symbolic code means the real meaning behind what’s
happening in the scene with the characters by the way their
actions are taken place.
These screenshots are from the movie
‘Fish Tank’. In this scene Mia is dancing,
however the real meaning behind her
dance is freedom. Dancing is one of her
way to feel free.
11. Cultural code
Cultural code is used to enhance our reading and understanding
of the text, and the places where the film is set enhances our
understanding even more stronger. Or even the costumes the
characters use, can enhance the audience’s knowledge.
The screenshots are from the
film ‘Pride and Prejudice’, this
film is based on 1813 novel. The
setting and the costumes that the
characters use, demonstrates the
type of building and clothes that
were seen during that time
period.
12. Part D: Propp
Propp after studying folklore, fairy tales and legends he noticed
that there are many similarities in them which is the similar
character types and same problems. Propp made two theories,
the first one is called ‘7 Spheres of Action’. The 7 Spheres of
Action are:
• Hero
• Villain
• Dispatcher
• Donor
• Helper
• Heroine
• False hero
13. Hero
The hero is always on the search or on the rescue. It was
tradition for the hero to be a male, however now there’s also
female playing a hero.
Angelina Jolie
plays the hero in
the film ‘Salt’.
14. Villain
The villain is always against the hero, and always takes away
something or someone away from the hero. The villain also
causes disruption to the hero.
As the picture shows, the villain
isn’t as attractive as the hero.
15. Dispatcher
Dispatcher is always the one helping the hero finding it’s way or
giving them advice in order to continue with their search.
In the Snow White and the
Huntsman, the 7 dwarfs are the
dispatcher since they help Snow
White and the Huntsman to continue
with their journey.
16. Helper
The helper is always the one who sticks beside the hero,
however, the helper can be found in the middle of the movie or
they were there since the beginning.
In ‘I am Number 4’,
number 6 is always helping
number 6 escape from the
Mogadorian from the
beginning, but meets him
towards the end.
17. Donor
The donor is always helping the hero by giving him/her a gift,
advice or a skill towards their journey, to help them.
A traditional donor would
be the fairy godmother in
Cinderella, that people
would know from a very
young age.
18. Heroine
The heroine is often referred to princess traditionally, however
now-a-day male are also seen as a heroine. The heroine are
usually more of a passive and vulnerable character, which is often
in love or involved with the hero in a certain way.
The heroine in ‘The amazing Spider
Man’ is Gwen, who falls in love with
Peter. However they don’t end up
together.
19. False hero
The false hero is usually the one who tempts the hero from
stop searching or carrying on with their journey.
Scar from Lion King, tricked his
nephew Simba into thinking that
he killed his own dad, so that he
can become king.
