INTRO TO NARRATIVE

What do you think narrative means?

Narrative means a series of scenes which creates a story with a

beginning and an end.

Tutor Definition

Narrative is the media term for how a story is told in text.

Story = a sequence of events, known correctly as the plot.

Narrative = the way those events are put together to be presented to an

audience.

Therefore, when analysing a narrative we analyse the construction of the

story ie the way it has been put together, not the story itself.

What are the different ways of structuring a narrative?

Linear
Non-linear
Single Strand
Multi - strand

List Propps seven archetypes

Hero
Villain
False Hero
Donor provided the hero with an item/power to help the hero with
his quest
Dispatcher sends the hero on their quest
Princess exists as a goal
Helper helps the hero

Can you apply Propps theory to a TV show or Film?

 Gossip Girl
Blair Villain
Chuck
Jenny Princess
Serena Hero
Dan Donor
Nate False Hero
Vanessa Dispatcher
List the stages or Todorovs narrative theory.
1. Equilibrium normal world characters survive in
2. Disruption to the Equilibrium
3. Recognition of the disruption
4. An attempt to repair the damage
5. New equilibrium
Can you apply Todorovs theory to Dead Man Walking?
Equilibrium 2 detectives trying to find out a suicide case
Disruption Jamie Kent running away
Recognition Finding Kent and trying to find out information from him
Attempt Arresting Kent
New equilibrium - ????
List Barthes Codes.
Action
Enigma
Cultural
Connotations
Symbolic
Can you analyse Barthes codes in Dead Man Walking?
Action OMalley and Burke investigating the body and chasing
Jamie Kent
Enigma Why is OMalley involved?
Cultural
Connotations
Symbolic symbols on hand and paper

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