narrative theory

- This is a mindmap of definition of narrative difference between narrative story and narrative plot.

WHAT IS STRUCTURALISM - structuralist concern themselves with how meaning is established ans maintained. they believe the meaning is attributed and is not already contained in the thing.
NARRATOLOGY- is a branch of structuralism that studies the nature of the story rather than the individual tales in isolation.

tevetan todrov - belives narrative is a casual transformation.

One narrative structure:
stage 1 - a state of equilibrum (Situation 1)
stage 2- disruption of equilibrum by some action
stage 3 - recognition that has been a disruption
stage 4- an attempt to repair the disruption
stage 5- a reinstatment of the equilibrum


todrov beleives that stories begin with an equilibrium of status quo where any potentionally opposing forces are in balance. this is disrupted by some event, setting in a chain of series of events problems are solved so that order can be restored to the world of fiction.


propp- was intrested in the narrative of folk tales. he beelived they were the same basic struggles and apperared to have stock characters.
the hero - a character that seeks something
the donor- who provides an object with magical properties
the villian - who opposes actively blocks the heros quest
the dispatcher - whos sends the hero on his / her quest.
the false hero - who disrupts the hero success by making false claims.
the helper- who aids the hero
the princess - acts as the reward for the hero and the object of the villains plot
her father- who acts to reward the hero for his effort

christopher volger-
story analyst for disney warner bros, 20th century fox, and other hollowood production companies. he focused on exploring the construction of narrative from a character perspective. his theory is called the hero's journey.

volger 8 archetypes within hollywood narratives:
1- HERO
2-mentor
3- heraid
4- shape shifter
5- allies
6- shadow
7 - trickster
8 - threshold guardians

levi strauss - binary oppositions

beleives that the meanings, narrative depend on the binary oppositions he explores this through underlying typical themes. he beleives that conflict helps to drive the narrative.

. man vs woman
. white vs black
. young vs old
. hero vs villian
. west vs east
. good vs bad

mckee
simple 5 part narrative structure:
1. inciting incidents
2.progressive complications
3.crisis
4.climax
5.resolution