Narrative Theories

By Sophie Barnes

AristotleThis Greek philosopher discovered over 2000 years ago, that a narrative must contain a:

Beginning

Middle

End

This theory has developed into the five main stages of narrative which is more recognizable to a modern audience:

Exposition- The scene is set

Development- More characters are introduced

Complication- Something happens to disrupt the life of a character

Climax- Decisive moment reached

Resolution- Matters are resolved

Todorov’s Narrative Theory

Todorov’s theory suggests that on a journey through a film narrative, it is conventional to pass through five stages. These are

1. A state of equilibrium

2.A disruption to the equilibrium by an action.

3.Recognition of the disruption (usually by the protagonist).

4.An attempt to repair the disruption

5. A reinstatement of an equilibrium, which is usually changed in some way from at the start of the narrative.

Claude Levi-Strauss’ Narrative Approach

He studied hundreds of myths and legends, and discovered that an audience will interpret the world through opposites.

He observed that most narratives are organized around these conflicts.

Examples of binary opposites:

Night and Day

Boy vs Girl

Black vs White

Man vs Nature

Protagonist vs Antagonist

Joseph Campbell’s Narrative Theory

This theory suggests that a narrative must follow the journey of a hero or monomyth.

Campbell believed that regardless of the time, place or culture of a narrative, they all follow the same universal stages with recognizable characters.