Narrative Theory
- 2. TODOROV’S FIVE STAGES OF A NARRATIVE
- 3. EQUILIBRIUM • THE EQUILIBRIUM IS THE FIRST STAGE OF TODOROV’S THEORY • THIS IS WHERE ALL LIFE IS FUNCTIONING AS USUAL • IN A MOVIE THAT FLOWS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER THIS STAGE WILL COME FIRST • TODOROV BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A POWER IN THE STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM (BALANCE) • WHEN THIS IS BROKEN, THE POWER WILL SHIFT TO ANOTHER CHARACTER, KEEPING THE AUDIENCE ENTERTAINED
- 4. DISRUPTION • AN ISSUE OCCURS THAT BEGINS THE BUILD UP TO THE CLIMAX • THIS IS A MAIN SOURCE OF TENSION AND ACTION THAT EXCITES THE VIEWERS • THE ISSUE DISRUPTS THE EQUILIBRIUM
- 5. RECOGNITION • THIS IS THE RECOGNITION OF THE DISRUPTION OCCURRING • USUALLY SOME DRAMATIC REACTIONS TAKE PLACE TO BUILD UP TENSION AND ENHANCE ENTERTAINMENT
- 6. ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR • THIS IS WHEN THE MAIN CHARACTERS START GENERATING IDEAS TO REPAIR OR RESTORE THE EQUILIBRIUM
- 7. RESTORATION OF EQUILIBRIUM • THIS IS WHEN ALL BALANCE IS RESTORED • LIFE GOES ON AS USUAL • THIS IS STEREOTYPICALLY THE ‘HAPPILY EVER AFTER’
- 8. FRIENDS EPISODE; ROSITA’S DEAD THE EQUILIBRIUM • MONICA AND ROSS ARE LIVING TOGETHER HAPPILY THE DISRUPTION • PARENTS ARE SELLING THEIR HOUSE THE RECOGNITION • READ IT ON A NEWSPAPER AND SAW HOUSE FOR SALE THE ATTEMPT TO REPAIR • PUT SOME OF ROSS’ THINGS IN MONICA'S BOXES TO MAKE HER FEEL BETTER THE RESTORATION OF THE EQUILIBRIUM • MONICA GETS A PORSCHE AND THE BARCA LOUNGER IS GONE
- 10. THE HERO THE HERO LEADS THE NARRATIVE, IS USUALLY SEEKING SOMETHING- A QUEST, OR TRYING TO SOLVE SOMETHING-A MYSTERY. THEY CAN BE FEMALE OR MALE.
- 11. THE VILLAIN HAS A CONFLICT WITH THE HERO AND TRIES TO STOP THEM FROM SUCCEEDING. THEY’RE USUALLY EVIL. STEREOTYPICALLY MALE BUT CAN BE FEMALE.
- 12. THE DONOR GIVES THE HERO SOMETHING- A CLUE, A TALISMAN, A SPECIAL POWER- WHICH HELPS THEM COMPLETE THEIR QUEST.
- 13. THE PRINCESS USUALLY THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS WHO WAITS FOR A ‘PRINCE’ TO COME TO HER SAVIOUR. SHE IS USUALLY A PRIZE OR REWARD FOR THE HERO. IF THE HERO IS FEMALE THERE CAN BE A MALE PRINCE AS THE REWARD.
- 14. THE HELPER HELPS THE HERO, IS OFTEN A SIDEKICK.
- 15. THE PRINCESS’ FATHER AN AUTHORITY FIGURE WHO OFFERS A REWARD TO THE HERO FOR COMPLETING THEIR QUEST. THAT REWARD MIGHT BE A PRINCE, A PRINCESS OR IN MORE MODERN NARRATIVES, FOR EXAMPLE A NEW CAR.
- 16. THE FALSE HERO THE FALSE HERO TAKES CREDIT FOR THE HERO’S ACTIONS OR TRIES TO MARRY THE PRINCESS.
- 17. Film: a series of unfortunate events Character Types Character Names The Hero --Non-- The Villain Count Olaf The Donor Lemony Snicket The Princess Sunny The Helper Organization of spies The Princess’ Father --Non-- The False Hero Mr POE
- 18. SUNNY IS THE PRINCESS, BECAUSE DUE TO HER YOUNG AGE, SHE IS UNABLE TO SAVE HERSELF, THEREFORE, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SHE IS NEEDED TO BE SAVED BY HER SIBLINGS. FOR EXAMPLE; WHEN THE SNAKE IS WRAPPED AROUND HER, OR WHEN SHE IS STUCK IN THE CAGE. THE HELPER IS LEMONY SNICKET, BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE FILM, HE IS TRYING TO SOLVE THE CASE AND LEAVES HINTS AND SENDS HELP FOR THE KIDS. THE FALSE HERO IS MR POE, BECAUSE HE’S CONSTANTLY TAKING CREDIT FROM THE KIDS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THEY FINALLY EXPOSE COUNT OLAF, HE TAKES THEIR CREDIT AND SAYS THAT HE DISCOVERED IT HIMSELF.