2. The Semantic Code (SEM)
The Hermeneutic code (HER)
The Cultural Code (REF)
The Symbolic Code (SYM)
The Proairetic Code (ACT)

3. The Semantic Code (SEM)
The Semantic code refers to connotation within
the story that gives additional meaning over
the basic denotative meaning of the word.

4. The Hermeneutic code (HER)
The Hermeneutic Code refers to any element of
the story that is not fully explained and hence
becomes a mystery to the reader.

5. The Cultural Code (REF)
The Cultural code refers to anything that is
founded on some kind of canonical works that
cannot be challenged and is assumed to be a
foundation for truth.

6. The Proairetic Code (ACT)
The Proairetic Code builds tension, referring to
any other action or event that indicates
something else is going to happen which gets
the reader guessing to what will happen next.

7. The Symbolic Code (SYM)
The Symbolic code is very similar to the
Semantic Code, but acts at a wider
level, organizing semantic meanings into
broader and deeper sets of meaning.

8. Tzvetan Todorov is a philosopher
and cultural critic and the author
of over 20 books.
Tzvetan Todorov’s believed that there are five stages to
narrative structure:
• A state of Equilibrium. (All as is if it should be)
• A disruption to that order (by an event)
• A recognition that the disorder has occurred.
• An attempt to repair the damage.
• A return or restoration to start a NEW equilibrium.

9. Vladimir Propp analysed a whole series of
Russian folk tales in the 1920s.
Vladimir Propp’s theory was formed in the early twentieth Century. He studies Russian
fairytales and discovered that in stories there were always 8 types of characters evident.
• The hero,
• The villain,
• The donor,
• The dispatcher,
• The false hero,
• The helper,
• The princess and her father.

10. Propp's Narrative Functions (31)
1. A member of a family leaves home
2. An interdiction is addressed to the hero
3. The hero ignores the interdiction
4. The villain appears
5. The villain gains information about the victim
6. The villain attempts to deceive the victim to take possession of victim or victim's belongings
7. The victim is fooled by the villain, unwittingly helps the enemy
8. Villain causes harm/injury to family/tribe member
9. Misfortune or lack is made known
10. Seeker agrees to, or decides upon counter-action
11. Hero leaves home
12. Hero is tested, interrogated, attacked etc, preparing the way for his/her receiving magical
agent or helper
13. Hero reacts to actions of future donor
14. Hero acquires use of a magical agent
15. Hero is transferred, delivered or led to whereabouts of an object of the search
16. Hero and villain join in direct combat

11. 18. Villain is defeated
19. Initial misfortune or lack is resolved
20. Hero returns
21. Hero is pursued
22. Hero is rescued from pursuit
23. Hero unrecognised, arrives home or in another country
24. False hero presents unfounded claims
25. Difficult task proposed to the hero
26. Task is resolved
27. Hero is recognised
28. False hero or villain is exposed
29. Hero is given a new appearance
30. Villain is punished
31.Hero marries and ascends the throne

12. laude Lévi-Strauss was born in Belgium on 28 November 1908
to French parents.
He undertook a law degree at the University of Paris.
Levi-Straus believed that the individual narrative structure could be
grasped as the imaginary resolution to real contradiction.