A narrative is a story, an account of a string of events occurring in space and time, and connected by the logic of cause and effect. It is the structural feature of a film.

Todorov’s theory of Equilibrium

A linear sequence of events containing:

• Narrative starts with an equilibrium (normal life)
• Something disrupts the equilibrium (change of normal life)
• quest to restore equilibrium begins (realisation)
• reaches climax (peak tension)
• equilibrium is restored (new normal life)

Levi Strauss’ theory of Binary opposition

Within the narrative, there will be binary counters, such as the villain to a hero, or cure to the poison

Propp’s theory of Character types

Propp believes that in nearly every basic narrative, there are these 7 archetypes found in characters:

• The hero (sets out to save/achieve something)
• The donor (gives the hero the resources)
• The villain (opposes the hero)
• The helper (aids the hero)
• The princess (what the hero wants to save/achieve)
• The dispatcher (gives the hero the quest)
• The false hero (misled on the path with bad intentions)

Vogler/Campbell’s theory of The hero’s journey

following the narrative of the protagonist, seeing them venture off their normal life on an adventure through these different stages, crossing into a world unknown to the protagonist, until they meet their end back at their normal life.

Barthes’ theory of Narrative Codes

All narratives will weave together these 5 codes in one way or another. The 5 include:

• Enigma code (what will happen next?)
• Action code (adds action)
• Semantic code
• Symbolic code
• referential code

Todorov – Equilibrium

Todorov theorised that all narratives contain equilibrium, disequilibrium, recognition, resolution and new equilibrium. What this meant was that narratives are conditioned around the character and events surrounding them are started due to an equilibrium.

Levi-Strauss – Binary oppositions

His Theory states that the majority of narratives contain opposing main characters, such as with Hero’s and villain’s, the opposition between the 2 thickening the plot and further the narrative.

Propp – Spheres of action (Character types)

Propp’s Theory states that characters within a narrative are driven through their action types and function within a story, such as with Hero’s, damsels, sidekicks, helpers, etc.

Vogler/Campbell – Hero’s Journey

Their Theory states that a hero ventures forth into from a common/ordinary world into one that is estranged or supernatural from their own, with the story ending back home in the ordinary world.

Barthes – Narrative Codes

Barthes theory of narrative codes, identifies 5 different kinds of semiotic elements. These 5 codes are: Hermeneutic, Proairetic, Semantic, Symbolic and cultural.

What does Narrative mean in film?

Narrative – How the plot and story unfolds through a fictional or fictionalized way. It is also made through a structure that is either Linear or Non-Linear.

Linear – Scenes are arranged in or extending along a straight or nearly straight line of a story.

Non-Linear – Scenes aren’t arranged in a linear structure but are shown out of order, such as through flashbacks and etc.

Key Theorists

Todorov – Equilibrium

Todorov’s narrative structure theory states that all narratives contain equilibrium, disequilibrium, recognition, resolution, and new equilibrium. Equilibrium is the beginning stage in the theory, it is the ‘steady state’ where things are all as they should be.

Levi-Strauss – Binary Oppositions

This theory entails that the majority of narratives in media forms contain opposing main characters, these binary opposites help to thicken the plot and further the narrative as it introduces contrast.

Propp – Spheres of Action (Character Types)

Propp argued that stories are character driven and that plots develop from the decisions and actions of characters and how they function in a story, he claimed characters could be classified into certain roles that progress a story. He identified seven archetypes: the villain, the donor, the helper, the princess, the dispatcher, the hero, and the false hero.

Vogler/Campbell – Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey Theory is a theory that aims to prove the existence of repetition of hero travel patters used in many heroic stories. It’s been analysed as an example of the sympathetic plot, a universal narrative structure in which a goal-directed protagonist confronts obstacles, overcomes them, and eventually reaps rewards.

Barthes – Narrative Codes

According to Barthes, all narratives share structural features that each narrative weaves together in different ways. The five narrative codes are; hermeneutic/enigma code, proairetic/action code, semantic code, symbolic code and cultural/referential code.

Equilibrium (Todorov) – The stage of a narrative in which everything is at peace and characters haven’t faced any kind of disruption.

Binary Opposites (Levi-Strauss) – Narratives contain opposing main characters (e.g. good/evil, comedic/serious etc)

Character Types (Propp) – seven main characters exist in a narrative, those being:

• the villain.
• the donor (provider)
• the helper.
• the princess
• the dispatcher.
• the hero or victim.
• the false hero.

Hero’s Journey (Vogler/Campbell) – narratives involve a structure consisting of several stages (such as call to adventure, transformation, return)

Narrative Codes (Barthes) – “all narratives share structural features that each narrative weaves together in different ways” :

Hermeneutic Codes – When a writer deliberately withholds information from the audience to leave a plot point unexplained

Proairetic codes – plot points which are caused by previous events and lead to other actions.

Semantic Codes – Rather than simply working on a denotational level, signs carried connotations beyond their basic definition and gave the reader a little more insight to the characters, setting and plot.

Symbolic Codes –  thematic or structural devices.

Cultural Codes – Many stories allude to concepts and ideas that exist outside the text. In order for these signifiers to be decoded fully by the audience, that information needs to be part of our framework of knowledge.

key theorists:

Torodov – Equilibrium

Todorov posited that all narratives contain equilibrium, disequilibrium, recognition, resolution, and new equilibrium.

Levi-Strauss – Binary oppositions

Levi Strauss, a French anthropologist in the 1900s, proposed a theory of ‘binary opposites’ which entails that the majority of narratives in media forms such as books and film contain opposing main characters. These binary opposites help to thicken the plot and further the narrative; and introduce contrast.

Propp – Spheres of action (Character types)

Propp argued that stories are character driven and that plots develop from the decisions and actions of characters and how they function in a story. He claimed characters could be classified into certain roles that progress a story

Vogler/Campbell – Hero’s journey

In brief, the Hero is living in the so-called “ordinary world” when he receives a call to adventure. Usually, the Hero is unsure of following this call — this phase is known as the “refusal of the call” — but is then helped by a mentor figure, who gives him counsel and convinces him to follow the call.

Barthes – Narrative codes

Those five narrative codes are; hermeneutic code, proairetic code, cultural code, connotative code, and symbolic code. This study applies qualitative research design to analyse the source of data.

Narrative – The structural framework of a movie, aka how the movie goes from the beginning to middle to end following a plot and story which unfold.

Levi Straus Binary Opposition– A theory that states the majority of narratives in media forms such as books and film contain opposing main characters.

Todorov’s equilibrium– a balanced state in which opposing forces are not in confrontation.

Propp spheres of Action– stories are character driven and that plots develop from the decisions and actions of characters and how they function in a story.

Vogler/Campbell hero’s journey-the hero is living in a so called ordinary world when he receives a call to a adventure.

Barthes Narrative Codes– His narrative codes include proairetic, hermeneutic, sermanti, symbolic and cultural codes.

Todorov: that in a narrative, the character will go through five stages being Equilibrium, Disruption, Recognition Repair the Damage and Equilibrium Again.

Levi-Strauss: that in a narrative. The two protagonists will be the opposite to each other to thicken the plot.

Propp: that there are 7 types of character in a story being the villain, donor, helper, princess, dispatcher, hero and false hero.

Vogler/Campbell: that the narrative follows a 12 step structure being a call to adventure, refusal of the call, meeting a mentor, crossing the threshold, tests, approach to the inmost cave, the ordeal, the reward, the road back, the resurrection, the return and the freedom to live.

Barthes: that there are 5 narrative codes in a story being the enigma code, action code, semantic code, symbolic code and the cultural code.

propps spheres of action show 7 different character types for a film to have being hero, villian, the false hero, the princess, the helper, the donor the wise man, the father