Todorov suggests there are 5 stages of narrative: equilibrium, disruption of equilibrium, recognition of disruption, attempt to repair disruption, and new equilibrium. These stages are represented in a diagram with arrows showing the progression. Different genres will show these stages differently. Levi-Strauss believed narratives are based on binary oppositions like good/evil and male/female that create structure and meaning. However, this can lead to problematic hierarchies. Barthes discussed how narratives create enigmas to engage the audience in deriving meanings and making assumptions. Propp identified character functions like heroes, villains, dispatchers, and donors that recur across folktales.

1. Assignment 8:
Narrative Theory
Fatou Panzout

2. Part A:
Todorov (1&2)

3. Todorov

4.  Todorov suggests that there are 5 main
stages of narrative (with 3 major stages)
◦ Equilibrium (Normality)
◦ Disequilibrium (conflict of equilibrium by action
or event)
◦ Recognition of Disequilibrium
(conflict/disruption)
◦ Attempt to repair disequilibrium
◦ New Equilibrium (New Normality)
Todorov

5. 1.EQUILIBRIUM
2. DISRUPTION
5. NEW OF EQUILIBRIUM
EQUILIBRIUM
Todorov‟s Narrative Theory
4. AN ATTEMPT 3. RECOGNITION
TO REPAIR THE OF THE
DAMAGE DISRUPTION

6.  The disturbance of the equilibrium pushes the effect/cause chain of
events that makes the plot of the film. Stages 2,3,4 can sometime s be
repeated over and over again before we can reach the final stage of new
equilibrium (end). Thus, the anticipation („the edge of our seats‟) is
maintained by the lack of resolution. The complete narrative structure
builds the audiences pleasure and satisfaction that are met by the
resolution: „Happy Ending‟.
 Quite often, the new equilibrium absorbs a new state of being, where not
only has order been returned, but some kind of learning process or
improvement to life has taken place.
 In the case of mainstream films (trilogies), each film leaves the audience
with an unfinished aspect of the plot of the film, in order for the audience
to get ready for the next sequel.
 Different types of genres will show the 5 stage process differently,
capturing different typical disturbance and resolutions
Todorov

7. Todorov Task 1

8. Todorov Task 2

9. Claude Levi-Strauss

10.  He believed that our world is described as Binary Opposites. When we see
into the themes that the stories and even real life consist of, we come to
realize that they have differences, contradictions and conflict or opposites.
◦ Day/Night
◦ Good/Bad
◦ Light/Dark
◦ Female/Male
 We recognize that the essential conflict in relation to the narrative, which
shows a familiarity in stories and films
 Strauss also believed that these oppositions are quite fundamental to our
ability to make meanings of our own lives. For example, we understand
the fact the good is an opposition of evil.
 He believed opposition brought more structure to text including things like
stories, books, plays, and films
Levi-Strauss

11. HERO VILLIAN
GOOD EVIL
NATIVE OTUSIDE
LOVE HATE
HANDSOME UGLY
Example

12. SETTLERS NATIVE
AMERICANS
CIVILISED SAVAGE
CHRISTIAN PAGAN
ORDERED SOCIETY OUTSIDE SOCIETY
TOWN WILDERNESS
HANDSOME SCARRED
Example – Western Genre

13.  However there is a problem with Strauss‟
theory
 Oppositions can essentially lead to a status of
hierarchy, leaning on one side having to „win‟
the conflict; even though it is tied to the
structure of the narrative
 But the audience are expected to favour the
winning side.
 This may create a dangerous norm (e.g. ideal
image of white, big
muscles, strong, handsome, brave male
hero).
Problem

14. Film Opposite 1 Opposite 2 Explanation
“Juice” The difference
between the two is
that one of them is
good, knowing his
rights from wrong
and doesn‟t want to
cause trouble,
• Q is a member of “The • Bishop is also a whereas the other
Wrecking Crew” but is the member of “The
character seems to
most sensible out of all. Wrecking Crew” but he
do all things bad,
He knows his right from is the most violent out
of all of them. He seeks and seeks things
wrongs and is also an
to have power and that must be earned
aspiring DJ.
respect, even though and not forced.
he doesn‟t really
deserve it. For this
causes him to kill a
numerous amount of
people to try and
accomplish this mission
Genre: Drama

15. Roland Barthes

16. Who/What is this
figure ?
Why is it there ?
Is this figure
going for the girl
in the bed ?
Is she a victim ?
Who is she ?
What she doing
there ?
Enigma – Paranormal Activity

17. Thriller/Mystery Slasher/Horror Romance
Action: Action: Action:
• Villain walks in with gun • Girlfriend finds out that
• People casually playing
• Being alone in a he‟s really not a chef, they
poker (unaware of the room break up 
villains)
Assumptions: Assumptions: Assumptions:
• Victims get shot • They get back together
•Or they get robbed
•Victim gets killed •They kiss and make up 
Action Code

18. Not as good Villain Hero
looking
Better
Looking,
handsome
Not really
strong
Manly,
strong
Evil and
Selfish
Good
hearted
Semantic Code

19. Devil Wears Prada Black Swan
(Romance/Drama) (Horror/Thriller)
Black Dress –
Black Dress –
Evil, Power, Mystery
Elegance, Sexy, and Dark Make (Black) -
power Death
Semantic Code – Colour Black

20. Together are free
from one of them
suffering from
depression
Lesha saved
Justice, giving her
a new hope in love
Out in the open space,
giving them more
freedom.
More time for Justice to
re-evaluate her life and
decisions
Both of them happy  They both begin to
and free in the realize their ways, and are
sunny determined to change
weather, together their ways.
having fun, like  Lesha must stop drinking
there‟s no tomorrow and Justice needs to build
new hope in love again
Symbolic Code – Poetic Justice
(Females)

21. • Justice‟s first boyfriend, wasn‟t
a good man but treated her
right.
• As he got shot, it lead to
Justice‟s depression as he was
her first and only loved one
• Chicago was Lesha‟s
man, he did love her
but was really with
her for sex. Lucky was good
• He was quite hearted man, he was
abusive to her
because he didn‟t like defensive for what he
the excessive felt was right and was
drinking Lesha was determined to find love
doing.
within Justice
Symbolic Code – Poetic Justice
(Males)

22. Poetic Justice was set in 1993, where crime in
America were at an all time high and the main focus
of it. Especially of the Black Ethnicity Group.
Cultural Code

23. Vladimir Propp

24. The male is sent on a
quest, so that he can
restore
disequilibrium, usuall
y he fights the villain
but in this case the
princess falls in love
with another and
fights the villain in
order to save her new
found love
Hero

25. • Causes Disruption
• Opposes the hero/heroine
• Is a threat to the hero/heroine
Villian

26. Even though she‟s the villian, she
puts the Prince through countless
missions to fight monsters etc.
Just so she can keep him
distracted from getting to the
Princess
Dispatcher

27. She helps the “false
hero”/sidekick in this
situation rather than the
hero.
She provides the helper
with a poison apple to
kill the princess so that
she can remain in power
Donor

28. The chipmunk is the sidekick for the
prince, as it tries to help the Prince
to find the princess, but also tries to
save the princess life.
On the other hand this helper, is
more on the Queens side, helping
her to try and capture the princess
in order to kill her.
Helper

29. He is a vulnerable character, as he does save the princess but
also he is in aid of the princess, who needs to save him
Heroine

30. He is the false hero as he
feels that he saves the
day, in trying to capture
the princess for the queen.
But really what hes doing
is all for the wrong reason
False Hero

31. Everything that happens
within doesn‟t connect with
the audience in anyway
possible, as they‟re all in their
world.
For example, when the
“baby” happened to kiss the
woman in a melodramatic
way.
This only encountered with
the characters and only they
experienced it.
Part E – Diegesis in film
Little Man