Narrative Theories

Vladimir Propp - 7 Character

Mr. Vladimir Propp is famous for his 7 character theory. He taught us the narrative theory that in films there are 7 characters. These are as follows: The Hero (who seeks something), The Villain (who opposes the hero), The donor (who helps the hero by providing some sort of magical object), The dispatcher (who sends the hero on his way), The False Hero (who falsely assumes the role of the hero), The helper (who gives the hero support) and finally the Princess (also known as treasure, who is the reward for the hero).

EXAMPLES OF THESE CHARACTERS IN REAL FILMS:

CHARACTER ------------ BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ------- DOUBLE INDEMNITY

Hero ------------------------------------ The Beast ---------------------------------------- Walter

Villain ------------------------------------ Gaston ------------------------------------------- Phyllis

Donor ----------------------------------- The Enchantress ---------------------------------Undecided

Dispatcher -------------------------------- Belle ------------------------------------------- Keyes

False Hero -------------------------------- Gaston --------------------------------- Undecided

Helper ------------------------------------- The Cursed Furniture ----------------- Lola

Princess ----------------------------------Belle --------------------------------- Phyllis

Tzvetan Todorov - Narrative Structure

Todorov is famous for simplifying the narrative structure and calling it the theory of equilibrium. His theory is split into five stages of narrative structure. These are as follows: A State of Equilibrium, Disruption of Equilibrium or Disequilibrium, Recognition that the disruption has occurred (which is sometimes known as period of disequilibrium) and finally the resolution and the return of equilibrium. Once again I did my own interpretation of this using the Disney Movie: Beauty and the Beast:

Equilibrium ---> Adam is human, he lives in a castle with his servants who are also human. Their lives are happy. Belle and her Father also live together happy - the village is happy and there is no disruption.

Disruption ----> Adam is turned into a Beast for not being kind to an enchantress - his whole castle is cursed and the only way to fix the problem is for Adam to have somebody love him. After all this, Belle's father is travelling and finds Adam's castle to take shelter in. Adam is upset with this and captures him. Gaston thinks Belle is the prettiest in the village and wants her to marry him. She does not want to. Belle decides to trade her life for her Father's and she is now the Beasts prisoner.

Period of 

Disequilibrium -> Both the Beast and Belle dislike eachother, but the Beasts servants know that Belle is the one who will fall in love with him, they try to coax him to be kind and gentle to her. As the time goes on the two grow fond of each other and begin to warm to one                         another. Things are looking good until one night the Beast gives Belle a magic mirror that enables her to see whomever she wishes. She looks at her father and realises that he is very ill. The Beast (now quite in love with her) let's her go to him. Upon her return she finds her father trying to get the village folk to go and save Belle but they all think he's mad. When Belle returns she shows Gaston the mirror and it shows him the Beast. Gaston wanting to be the hero gathers up a mob and hurries to the castle to kill the beast. Gaston locks Belle and her Father away...

Resolution --> Hope is regained when Chip a little tea cup manages to free Belle and her Father. Belle races to the castle to help the Beast. She finds both the Beast and Gaston fighting to the death on the roof of the castle. It's very close but Gaston strikes the Beast with a knife and the Beast is injured. The Beast uses all his strength to shove Gaston off the castle, Belle and the Beast watch as Gaston falls to his death. Belle helps the Beast onto the balcony and tries to comfort him, but he's injured and there's nothing that she can do. As the Beast closes his eyes, Belle whispers, "But I love you". This has broken the curse, The Beast returns to his human form as do all the servants. Belle and Adam marry and equilibrium is returned once again. 

Roland Barthes - Action & Enigma

Roland Barthes was a semiologist and is famous for introducing us to what are known as the action code and the enigma code. The Action code is a narrative device by which a resolution is produced through action. The Enigma Code is a narrative device that teases the audience by presenting a puzzle or riddle to be solved.

Claude Levi-Strauss - Binary Opposition

Claude was a French anthropologist and ethnologist who recently passed away in 2009. He is often referred to as 'The Father or Modern Anthropology' He is famous in media for what he called 'Binary Oppositions'. These are where there is a conflict between two qualities or terms. Some examples of these binary oppositions are as follows: Weak/Strong, Hero/Villain, Good/Evil, Man/Woman, First World/Third World, Protagonist/Antagonist, Young/Old and millions more.