narrative devices

narration – the subjective telling of the story from a specific point of view e.g. trainspotting mark renton

unreliable narrator – a character who tells us a story without credibility

backstory – a story that tells what led up to the main story/plot e.g this is england shaun’s backstory

flashback – interrupting the chronological sequence of events to interject events of earlier occurrence

flashforward – a transition in a film or scene in the future

linear – the events of the story unfolding in the order in which they occurred

non-linear narrative – a storytelling technique in which a narrative is told out of chronological order

ellipsis – the shortening of plot duration achieved by omitting some story duration

framing device – a story that is different from the main story, comes at the beginning and end of it, and adds to it in some way

cliff-hanger – a plot that leaves the audience in suspense at the end of a scene or episode

closed endings – the character finishes their overall aim of the plot/makes it to the end of their journey

macguffin – a device in a film which serves merely as a trigger for plot

foreshadowing – be a warning or indication of a future event

alignment – the process by which spectators are are placed in relation to characters in terms of access to their actions and to what they know and feel e.g trainspotting mark renton – we are on his side

POV – a sequence that is shot as if the viewer were looking through the eyes of a specific character e.g this is england shaun – we follow his story throughout

causality – an influence by a cause contributes to an effect where the cause is partly responsible for the effect, and the effect is partly dependent on the cause

in medias res – technical term for the epic convention of beginning ‘in the middle of things’ rather than at the very start of the story

subplot – secondary plot used in film and television that receives less screen time and emphasis than the main plot e.g. trainspotting Lol and Woody relationship

masterplot – the main plot, ‘skeletal’ stroies that recur again and again

narrative hook – technique in the opening of a film that hooks the viewers attention e.g. trainspotting beginning scene

plot twist – an unsuspected occurrence or turn of events in the story that completely changens the direction or the outcome of the plot from the direction it was likely to go

Narration/untrustworthy narrator- a untrustworthy storyteller, most often used in narratives with a first person point of view

Backstory-a history or background created for a fictional character in a film or television programme

Flashback/Flashforward- They take a viewer from current moment to past or future time then return them to the current time.

Linear Plot- A linear plot has a beginning middle and end and is constructed chronologically.

Ellipsis- the narrative device of omitting a portion of the sequence events, allowing the reader to fill in the narrative gaps.

Framing Device- Provides structure and context for the central story.

Cliff-hanger- Ends a section of a story or ends the story with a complete dramatic question.

McGuffin- a plot device used in films or books that sets the characters into motion and drives the story.

Foreshadowing- a warning or indication of a future event within the story.

Alignment- The correct positioning of something.

Causality- an influence by which one event process state or object contributes to the production of another event.

In Media Res- a device used to describe when a story opens with a character already in the middle of things .

Master plot/Subplot- The main and second storyline within a film to offer different prospective.

Narrative Hook- the technique in the opening of a story that hooks the viewers attention so that they stay interested.

Plot Twist- A technique used that introduces a radical change in direction or expected outcome of the plot in a work of fiction.

narration- Narration is the act of telling a story, usually in some kind of chronological order. Making up a scary ghost story and relating it around a camp fire is an act of narration. Narration generally means any kind of explaining or telling of something. It is usually used in reference to storytelling.

backstory- Definitions of backstory. circumstances and events leading up to a real-life situation. the history of a made-up character in a drama, film, or book. a creative work that relates events taking place before those of an existing work.

flashback and flashforward- For example, a character might have a flashback to their childhood to explain why they have a fear of dogs or why they have a strained relationship with their father. Flash forwards are scenes or events that occur later in the story’s timeline than the present moment of the narrative

linear and non-linear- A linear plot has a beginning, middle, and end and is constructed chronologically. A nonlinear plot contains the same components (beginning, middle, and end) but is not chronological. Toni Morrison’s A Mercy is a nonlinear plot narrative format. The events are sporadic and without any chronological order.

ellipsis- Elliptical storytelling involves omitting or withholding part of the events or aspects so that the viewer (or reader) will fill in the gaps

framing devise- A framing device is like a picture frame or a window frame, providing structure and context for the central story. Examples of framing devices are ubiquitous in literature and entertainment. A tale told by a narrator to a group of listeners, as in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, is a classic framing device.

cliffhanger and closed endings- A cliffhanger is hoped to incentivize the audience to return to see how the characters resolve the dilemma. The 1914 film serial Perils of Pauline was shown in bi-weekly installments and ended with a cliffhanger.

McGuffin- A MacGuffin is a plot device used in films or books that sets the characters into motion and drives the story. A MacGuffin is an object, idea, person, or goal that the characters are either in pursuit of or which serves as motivation for their actions. Usually, the MacGuffin is revealed in the first act.

foreshadowing- Foreshadowing is a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story. Foreshadowing is useful for creating suspense, a feeling of unease, a sense of curiosity, or a mark that things may not be as they seem.

POV- Point of view shots give audiences a view from a character’s perspective by positioning the camera right where the character’s eyes would be. These shots cast an illusion of access to a character’s inner life, which makes POV shots very popular in TV and film.

casualty- Like “victim,” “casualty” means someone who has been hurt or killed, but the difference is in the cause. If that person has been harmed in a war or accident, then they are a “casualty.”

in media reis- In medias res is a latin phrase meaning “in the midst of things.” It’s used as a literary term to describe when a story opens with the character already in the middle of things—whether it’s a high octane car chase or a group of friends’ discovery of a dead body, this narrative technique captures the audience’s 

masterplot- A classic reference work for more than sixty years, Masterplots analyzes the most important works in all genres-long fiction, short fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction-throughout history and around the world, helping to define and critique the literary canon.

narrative hook- A hook is an opening statement (which is usually the first sentence) in an essay that attempts to grab the reader’s attention so that they want to read on.

plot twist- A plot twist is a sudden and unexpected change in the direction or outcome of a story that surprises and challenges the reader.

narrative- Narrative film: A fictional or fictionalized story. As opposed to documentaries (non-narrative films). Classical Hollywood narrative: A specific storytelling structure developed in early American cinema that has become the norm for narrative film.

naratology- NARRATOLOGY EXAMINES THE WAYS that narrative structures our perception of both cultural artifacts and the world around us. The study of narrative is particularly important since our ordering of time and space in narrative forms constitutes one of the primary ways we construct meaning in general.

Todorov- Todorov posited that all narratives contain equilibrium, disequilibrium, recognition, resolution, and new equilibrium. “Logical and artistic necessity” mandates these formal similarities. Narrative, Todorov suggests, is a language that humans are conditioned to speak.

levi-strauss- 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.

campell heros journey- Monomyth: The Hero’s Journey. Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth, developed in Hero With A Thousand Faces, describes the common heroic narrative in which a heroic protagonist sets out, has transformative adventures, and returns home. It is a useful formula for comparing literary traditions across time and culture.

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

Narration: a voiceover in a story which explains the plot or establishes the story.

Backstory: an explanation of a characters, location or something else’s past.

Flashback: when the story switch’s to the past in the middle of the story.

Ellipse: leaving out a part of the story for the audience to fill in the gaps.

Cliff hanger: when a story ends abruptly and unresolved.

Macguffin: an object or device that drives the plot that wasnt related to the plot beforehand.

Foreshadowing: when a plot point is hinted at earier on in the story.

Causality: the cause and effect within a story which keeps it going.

In media res: when the plot starts within the middle of the story.

Narrative hook: an interesting thing in the beginning of the plot which makes the audience want to keep watching.

Plot twist: an abrupt change in the story which changes the overall narrative.

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.