Unit G321 – Opening sequences

Narrative Codes

Roland Barthes

• Influential French Literary Theorist.• Developed a theory that there are 5 major

codes within a story that are interwoven in order to create meaning.

• For our purposes, i.e. to aid our understanding of opening sequences, we’re going to consider just 2 of the 5 codes.

The Hermeneutic Code

• The hermeneutic code – the parts of a story that are not fully explained. They exist as enigmas or questions that the audience wishes to be resolved. A detective story, for example, is a narrative that operates mainly by the hermeneutic code. A criminal act is shown and the remainder of the narrative is devoted to answering questions raised by the initial event.

The Hermeneutic Code• In order to maintain interest, the final truth is not

revealed typically until the end of the story and some devices are used to conceal it:

• The snare – a deliberate avoidance of the truth – a tease or an implication that sends the audience down a wrong path.

• Partial answers – revealing some of the final truth(s) – this is used to actually increase suspense.

• Equivocation – a mixture of truth and snare – usually further muddying the water!

• Jamming – Suggesting that the problem may be unsolvable.

The Proairetic Code

• The proairetic code – actions that imply further action/reaction. E.g. a character has an argument and the reader wonders what the resolution or outcome of this argument will be. This creates suspense/tension as the audience wonder what the outcome will be and begin to make guesses.

How are these codes used in the opening sequences to:

• Panic Room• Saw• Children of Men• I Am Legend