Research - Narrative Theory

Todorov 's theory -


Bulgarian scientist Todorov, proposed a basic all narrative structure. In his theory, he suggested that every story had an equilibrium or a 'calm period', a disequilibrium which is the disruptive factor and a new equilibrium to restore the 'world of fiction'.  


Five stages of a narrative (according to Todorov's Theory) -


1. A state of equilibrium - all as it should be 
2. A disruption of that order - by an event
3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred
4. An attempt to repair the damage - of disruption
5. A restoration of a NEW equilibrium




Propp's theory -


Vladmir Propp's theory suggested that in all narrative's, there were eight types of characters:


1. The hero (seeks something)
2. The villain (opposes the hero)
3. The donor (helps the hero, providing help)
4. The dispatcher (Sends hero on his way)
5. The false hero (falsely assuming the role of the hero)
6. The helper (giving support to the hero)
7. The princess (the reward for the hero but also needs protecting from the villain)
8. Her father


According to this theory there are only eight different character types, and only 31 different things they ever do. This is easily related to a lot of stories/narratives today. 



Claude Levi-Strauss' Theory -

Levi-Strauss looked at narrative structure in terms of binary oppositions. Binary oppositions are sets of opposite values which reveal the structure of media texts. An example would be GOOD and EVIL – we understand the concept of GOOD as being the opposite of EVIL. Levi Strauss was not so interested in looking at the order in which events were arranged in the plot. He looked instead for deeper arrangements of themes. For example, if we look at Science Fiction films we can identify a series of binary oppositions which are created by the narrative:

Earth - Space

Good - Evil

Human - Aliens
Past - Present
Normal - Strange
Known - Unknown