Narrative Research

Ina Francia Bayson

What is Narrative?

What is Narrative?

The storyline that are put together.

Themes:LoveWarEtc.

Connecting events together.

Tvzetan Todorov

• Born: 1st March 1939 in Sofia Bulgaria.

• Residence: Paris, France• He is a Franco-Bulgarian

Philosopher.• Writes books and essays

about literary theory, thought history, and culture theory.

General Info

What kind of Theorist is he?

• Suggests to follow a 3-part structure for narratives.

Equilibrium

Disequilibrium

New-Equilibrium

Vladimir Propp

• Born: 17th April 1895 in St. Petersburg, Russian Empire

• Died: 22nd August 1970 in Leningrad, USSR

• He is a Russian and Soviet Formalist (Literature) Scholar.

• Analyses the plot of Russian folk tales.

General Info

What kind of Theorist is he?

•He came up with the theory that only certain number of characters can crop up in most of the narratives.

Character TypesHero

Villain

Heroine Father

Helper

Donor

Mentor

Claude Levi-Strauss

• Born: 28th November 1908 in Brussels, Belgium

• Died: 30th October 2009• French anthropologist (study

of Humanity) and ethnologist (analyses the origin, technology, religion, etc of the division of humanity).

• “Father of Modern Anthropology”.

General Info

What kind of Theorist is he?

• Narrative Conflict• Narrative driven by conflict was caused by a series of opposing forces.• The Theory of Binary Opposition.

Opposing Forces

Light/Dark

Noise/Silence Youth/Age

Strength/Weakness

• Opposing forces or influences are balanced.

• The lack of balance in the middle of the film.

• The solution.• Restored balance.

He’s happy being single.Meet his ex and fall in love.

His ex lied that she have an amnesia.

They both got married.

Binary Opposition• Equals and opposites

– Good and bad– White and black

New-borns

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Flashbacks and Flash forwards

• A scene where the characters sees the past event or later event.

A flashback of his wife attempting to suicide.

Characters=stereotypes and structures/purposes

Character Role

Hero The lead role.

Villain The person who gives a negative effect on the film.

Heroine The centre figure of the film.

Helper Sidekick

Donor Gives clue/power to the hero

Mentor Guides the hero

Father Gives award to the hero.

Heroine