Narrative Theories

Tzvetan Todorov
5 stage narrative theory. Todorov developed this theory in 1969, and believed that this theory could be applied to every film, as he believed that all films followed the same narrative pattern.

1. Equilibrium.
2. Disruption of the equilibrium (conflict).
3. Realisation of disruption.
4. Attempt to repair damage caused by disruption.
5. Restoration of a new equilibrium.



Roland Barthes
5 narrative codes.
Action code: Conflict
Referential code: Audiences external knowledge
Symbolic code: Symbolism
Enigma code: The main mystery/unknown of the story according to the audience
Semantic code: Additional meanings



Ferdinand De Saussure
Binary oppositions
A binary opposition is a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning. De Saussure also states that people cannot understand the concept of good without understanding evil, so binary oppositions are necessary for language in general.
E.g. good vs evil, young vs old, protagonist vs antagonist.