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Narrative Theory

Narrative Theory. Lesson Objective: To understand the theories of narrative structure. Narrative. Narrative is... The way a stories or events are told or sequenced . Todorov. Devised a way of looking at narrative structures according to the different stages of the narrative

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Narrative Theory

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  1. Narrative Theory Lesson Objective: To understand the theories of narrative structure

  2. Narrative • Narrative is... • The way a stories or events are told or sequenced

  3. Todorov • Devised a way of looking at narrative structures according to the different stages of the narrative • The Equilibrium – the state of balance in the narrative, where we get to know the characters and their situation • The Disruption – oppositional characters are introduced and the story moves forward

  4. 3. The recognition (of the disruption) - where the story develops, different events and characters become involved and more drama occurs • The attempts to repair the disruption – where there may be a twist or climatic point • The new equilibrium - the problem is solve and harmony is resolved, though things may have changed

  5. Task Consider a film of your choice and apply Todorov’s narrative theory

  6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp_MvO8adGU

  7. The disruption often occurs outside the normal framework of the social situation. A town is threatened by an outside force such as guerrillas or insurgents so the threat is unravelled by The Magnificent Seven, but there are many set backs.

  8. There may be a murder which shocks the community or a character knows too much and needs to be ‘taken out’ in order for the state to continue its covert operations – The Bourne Identity.

  9. Vladimir Propp • His theories were originally written in the 1920’s and refer to Russian Folk stories • Propp referred to eight main character types; • The Hero • The False Hero • The Princess • The Father (of the princess) • The Helper • The Villain • The Donor • The Dispatcher

  10. 1. the VILLAIN – known to scriptwriters as the antagonist because he seeks to stop what the HERO wants to do. • 2. the HERO – known as the protagonist who has to fulfil his destiny in the story. This may be a quest for fame and fortune, or true love or the search for a lost parent or a quest to put right a former injustice or save the planet. • 3. the DONOR is the character who provides a special device so that the hero can fulfil his or her mission. James Bond has gadgets. A donor can give a magical device such as a sword – Excalibur in King Arthur or be a fairy godmother providing the means for the heroine to reach the prince.

  11. 4. the HELPER – the hero has to have a side-kick who helps the hero in the quest. • 5. the PRINCESS – remember that Propp had studied fairy tales so he uses terms that are familiar in traditional stories. The princess is the reward for the hero and often the desire of the antagonist who seeks to involve her in his schemes to out wit the hero.

  12. 6. Her FATHER – the person who rewards the hero for his achievements and also can provide a moral safeguard for the hero to be measured against. Think of the importance of the king in Shrek. • 7. the DISPATCHER – the character who sees that something needs to be done and sets up the hero’s quest and sends him out into the world to fulfil his task.

  13. 8. the FALSE HERO – the character who also lays claim to the princess but is unsuitable and causes complications. These character types can be shared by one or more characters. The dispatcher may also be the donor who gives the magical ring or sword. M dispatches James Bond and allows him to have the gadgets he needs to achieve the mission

  14. In Shrek • 1) The hero is Shrek who needs to solve the crime of why the fairytale creatures are illegally camping outside of his swamp2)The villain is Lord Farquaadwho sent the fairytale creatures to Shrek's swamp. He sends Shrek to rescue his princess from the castle and as a reward, he will give Shrek his swamp exactly how it was.

  15. 3)The princess is Princess Fiona and she is saved by Shrek from the castle, who she believes is her prince for saving her, but he tells her that Lord Farquaad will be her prince. She finds out that Shrek is an ogre.4)The helper is Donkey who accompanies Shrek throughout the journey to rescue the princess

  16. 5)The donor is not a particular person but a magical dragon who helps stops the wedding of Lord Farquaad and Fiona when Shrek realises he loves her, and finds out that she is an ogre too.6)The False hero is Lord Farquaadbecause he earned the princess even though he had to get Shrek to complete the mission to save her from the castle,  however Shrek and Fiona end up in love.

  17. Task Identify a modern film of your choice where at least four of the character types as identified by Propp appear. Give a brief description of each of the characters and how they fulfil their ‘type’.

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