Research : Narrative Theory.

                                      Narrative Theory.

In everything there is beginning, middle and end.A narrative in its most central senses is a series of events, but in order to construct meaning from narrative those events must somehow be linked together.

Conventions; there are a series of codes and conventions that helps us to interpret and understand the text  it need to be considered when we look at the narrative: 

                                                             Genre

                                                           Character

                                                 

                                                              Time

                                                            

                                                             Form

Propp's analysis of folktales: 

Vladimir propp analysed a whole series of Russian folktale and decided that the same events kept repeating in each of the stories, creating a repetitive consistency within all tales. Morphology of the folktale, was first published in 1928 and has  had a huge influence on literary theorists and practitioner ever since. Propp extended the Russian formalist  study of language to his analysis of folktale.He broke down  tales into the smallest possible which he called  narrative function. necessary for the narrative to exist and displays a consistent pattern in most stories.

Propp's Theoretical Idea of Narrative: characters that perform function

The Hero-the major character is usually the hero(protagonist) with whom the reader will normally  associate most strongly and who is the key person around which the narrative is told. Although this person is often a hero in some sense, they may also take another form, such as victim or seeker after some treasure of knowledge.      

The Villain- The main person who seeks to stop or destroy the hero is the villain, such as as Darth Vader in Star Wars.The villain typically is morally bad, highlighting the goodness of the hero.The villain may seek to prevent the hero from achieving his goal or may quest after the same thing.The villain may also be a tempter , for example Darth Vader tries to seduce Luke sky-walker over to the 'dark side'.     

The Donor-The donor is a person who gives the hero something specially such as a magical weapon or some particular wisdom , they may typically be Gods , sorcerers or wise persons. although they may be gatekeepers . this role may be combined with that of a helper.The donor may also be capricious and not easily swayed and may not give up their gift without setting the hero  another task , from a simple riddle to a whole other quest.    

The Dispatcher- An early role in the story is that of the dispatcher who sends the hero on missions.This may be a family member , mentor or a close friend it can also be the princess's father , who gives the hero a set of quests of to be completed before he gains the hand of the princess.The dispatcher may also be combined with another role, for example the false hero who then trails along behind (perhaps disguised as a helper) 

The false hero-A variant on the villain and the potential complication within the plot is the false hero, who appears to act heroically and may even be initially mistaken for the real hero.The false hero will try to steal the hero's grabbing the credit and perhaps try to marry the princess instead,the false hero may also gain respect or other control of princess's father ,  frustrating the hero's ability to gain  the  hand of  the princess.    

The Helper-The hero is supported in his or her quest by a helper , often a wise old man or magician , who appear at critical moments to provide support the contrast between the limitations of this person and the hero may provide a further exposition of hero's defining characteristics such as intelligence, determination, courage other helpers appears along the way as friends or random people who fall into the predicament and support  the hero.     

The Princess-The princess may take two forms, first she may be the  object which is deliberately sought by the hero, perhaps finding where the villain has taken her.Secondly, she  may be the reward, such that after completing some other mission , he gains her affections or hand in marriage. The princess may be seen very  little in the story, perhaps only appearing only at the end or may be an integral character  for example where she accompanies the hero on his mission , where he may win her heart  by the courage and determination of his  actions.The princess may be wooed by many . in particular by the  false hero.when we see the princess being won by false hero may rail and rant in frustration as we see her falling unwittingly into her clutches.  

 

Her father-finally, there is the princess's father , who constrains  the princess or who may dispatch the hero on his mission to save the princess.

The Princess's father is a key figure for the hero to persuade. as the father is almost always protective of his daughter.The father may also be in composition in some way in hero for the princess's affections and a triangle may form. 

                                   preparation 

A community/kingdom / family is an ordered state of being  a member of community/kingdom/family leaves a warning is given to the leaders of the community or rule is imposed on the hero.

                                 The warning is discounted /the rule is broken  

                                The villain attempts  to discover something  about the victim of the broken rule 

                                 The villain tries to deceive the victim to gain advantage 

                                 The victim unwittingly helps the villain.

   

                                                  Complication 

                                               A state of  disorder 

             The Villain harms a member of the community / kingdom / family 

             One of  the members of  the community/kingdom/family  desires  something 

                       The hero is sent  to get what  is desired 

                        The hero plans action against the villain

                                                 Transference 

                                            The hero leaves home
           The hero is challenged or attacked /  he meets  the test is given magical  power from the helper.
                                The hero then reacts   to  the  donor
         The hero arrives  at the place where he can fulfill his request


                                                Struggle

                                 There is a struggle between the hero  and the villain
                                  
                                           The  hero is branded
                                         The villain is overcome
                                         The state  of  disorder is settled
                                
                                                 Return

                                       The  hero returns
                                      The hero helps pursued
                                      The hero escapes or is rescued
                                      The  hero arrives home and is not recognized
                                       A false hero claims the reward
                                      A task  set  for  the hero
                                      The task is accomplished
                                        Recognition for the hero is recognized
                                      The false hero or villain is unmasked
                                      The false hero is punished
                                      The hero attains rewards (princess or the kingdom )



                                                    Criticisms


Some critics  may claim that  there are many  more characters types than propp suggests that they should  have identity, propp's theory of  narrative  seems to be based around a male dominated  idea  that they are the hero's of the story it's not likely for the story-line  to reverse in anyway  for example  the hero could be a woman  the reward  could be a man.

The critics argue that  propp's  of characters  and events is restrictive  changing  the traditional  format  would  change  the whole  propp's propose  a narrative e.g the hero may , villain  earlier , the narrative.
 Also propps  theory  applies to fairy-tales and similar  narratives based  around quests, it does  not  apply to all narratives.

                                              Todorov theory on narrative

Todorov suggested  that story  began  with  an equilibrium or statue  where  any potential opposing  forces are in balance there are events, setting  in chain a series of events problem  are solved so that the order can be restored and the order of the narrative continues it consists of  five stages.


                                                      - State of equilibrium  all  as it should ,
                                                      -A disruption of that order  by an events.
                                                     -A recognition that  disorder  has occurred
                                                      An attempt to repair  the damage of the disruption
                                                      -A return on restore of the equilibrium.


Start = Middle = End
Equilibrium=Disruption=Middle=Resolution=End, Restored order =New Equilibrium.

The first turning point of the story. where the main character makes the decision that defines the outcome of the story.

                                                  The resolution:All mystery is solved.

The protagonist understands his or her goal and begins to work toward it.

The audience gets to know the main character.

The greatest overall tension;the phase in which everything goes mostly wrong.

 The Armour handsome man. is stereo- typically handsome with blonde hair, his good looking, he parades  to a castle on a horse, the importance of this character is that the character sets the scene of a fairy-tale and how he could be a handsome prince about to rescue a defenseless princess.

A wolf in grannies clothes its similar to the famous fairy-tale of the little red riding hood the importance of this character shows how the story will not be a stereotypical fairy-tale as it breaks the idea of propp's theory already we are expected to see a princess lying in a bed as we can assume this male character is a princess on a quest to rescue a princess.

In my own relation although these theorist ideas were crucial when thinking of my own thriller about my narrative theory for my opening of a thriller, i believe that it didn't  apply to my dynamic of a thriller opening, but more like a fairy-tale , so in research of other theorist and came across Rowland's narrative theory on conventions and codes Rowland's narrative theory calms that a narrative can be broken down into five codes on sets of rules these are  which refers to the events taking place, which can refers to the questions raised  and answered which refers to the characters and characterisation, which  refers to the information and expiation which can also refers to the connotation of sign.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Action code- refers to the events taking place 

                                        Enigma code-which refers to the questions raised and answered 

                                        Semantic code-which refers to the characters and characterisation 

                                        Referential code-which to information and explanation

                                        Symbolic code-which refers to the connotations of signs.

Directed in a way how we see a narrative can be viewed from different angles  and perspectives a story might give a important  meaning  that is obvious to the audience  but when the story is untangles or is viewed from a different viewpoint  may be a  complete  different story i think this compliments thrillers genre films  as to keep the suspense and mystery you want to be able to give wider narrative to keep the audience aware o f what is always going to happen next , when basing on psychological thrillers. The narrative of the story may be something the audience does not expect at all.

This is a trailer from  identity (2003) in this clip of the film the narrative  film is displayed so far  is a group of  travellers who  are  stuck in a area  due to bad weather conditions.One by one each of them  are killed  by supposed killer, all  accusing each other they identify a common similarity among-st them.The audience believe that the only narrative within the film is the one we  have been showed, the narrative  have been described above, however , the audience then become aware of the characters and the situation at hand is a  make believe story created in mind of a man with split personality. Each character is an imaginary person  of  this one man, and the killings are not real. when at Barthe's theory this type of  thriller compliments his ideas and approaches of the audiences being shown a different view point to the film and all is not what is appeared to be obvious we believed the narrative of the film was about this group of people being killed when in fact the narrative was something completely different adding this  to my own thriller may help support the 3 , shock, surprise, suspense.