Tripartite narrative structure (Tztevan Todorov)
- Equilibrium
- Disruption
- New equilibrium
This structural approach could also be referenced to Freytag’s Pyramid exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and denouement as illustrated below.
Vladimir Propp (Character Types and Function)
STOCK CHARACTERS
- Hero
- Helper
- Princess
- Villain
- Victim
- Dispatcher
- Father
- False Hero
Often there is a villain who has done something to a victim. This means that we need a hero, who (often) accompanied by a helper is sent out (by a dispatcher) to fight the villain. The dispatcher or similar donor(such as a father figure) prepares the hero in his ‘quest‘ and gives the herosome magical object. Thehero generally meets the princess as part of his quest / journey which usually provides a happy ending. During the narrative we (and the princess) may be presented by a false hero.
Spheres of Action
- PREPARATION
- COMPLICATION
- TRANSFERENCE
- STRUGGLE
- RETURN
- RECOGNITION
Claude Levi-Strauss (Binary Oppositions)
BINARY OPPOSITIONS eg: good v evil; human v alien; young v old etc etc.
Elision- speeds up, simplifies, and generally enhances the flow of conversation.
Ellipsis- Ellipsis concerns the omission of a section of the story that is either obvious enough for the public to fill in or concealed for a narrative purpose, such as suspense or mystery.
Seymour Chatman: Satellites & Kernels
- Kernels: key moments in the plot / narrative structure -absolutely essential to the story / plot / narrative development
- Satellites: embellishments, developments, aesthetics
Roland Barthes: Proairetic and Hermenuetic Codes
- Proairetic code: action, movement, causation
- Hermenuetic code: reflection, dialogue, character or thematic development
- Enigma code: the way in which intrigue and ideas are raised – which encourage an audience to want more information.