Research- Narrative Theory

The first theory I looked at is that of Tvzetan Todorov. He believed that the fictional enviroment begins with a state of equillibrium (All as it should be, in a state of equal balance between powers of any kind). This is then disrupted in some way (disequillibrium). There is then an attempt to repair the damage of the disruption before a new equillibrium is reached.

Vladimir Propp's theory indicates that there are a number of set characters with specific narrative functions that appear in all stories. These were:

1. The villain (struggles against the hero)
2. The donor (prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object)
3. The magical helper (helps the hero in the quest)
4. The princess ( person the hero marries, often sought for during the narrative)
5. Her father
6. The dispatcher
7. The hero or victim

Levi Strauss' narrative thory claims that all narrative stuctures can be shown as a series of binary opposites. e.g good v evil, hero vs villain.

For example , in the film Die Hard some of the binary opposties are :

• Wide shot vs Extreme close up
• Technology vs Old fashioned
• Crowd vs Lone person
• Airport vs Party