narrative theory

Narrative theory
the three main theorists are

Tuzetan Todorov
Vladimir Propp
Claude levi-strauss

we read story in a z motion so that you start at the beginning so that your story has a beginning middle and end to have a full and complete story

Todorov
begins with equilibrium-everything is fine and calm with no problems
if somersetting goes wrong it is then a disequilibrium
at the new resolution a new equilibrium is produced
1 a state of equilibrium
2 a disruption
3 a recognition that the disorder has occurred
4 an attempt to repair the damage
5 a return of restoration

Propp
his theory is based on ancient folk tales
this one starts in a  bad place and works toward a good place
all narrative features a set of stock characters
These include

1. hero 
2. villain
3. donor (used to support and drive the story)
4. helper
5. princess (sometimes the prize)
6. father
7. dispatcher
8. victim
9. false villain
10. false hero 
11. false victim

Levi-Strauss

binary oppositions 

he states that a constant creation of conflict or opposition propels the story

he believes that the narrative could only end on a restitution of the conflict 

eg visuals - light and dark

conceptual - love and hate

Or they simply can be narrative or gender based 

Examples

band of brothers


this very good award wining TV series which is one of my all time favorite TV series which take place enduring the invasion of Normandy is ww2 during the events of d day following a company of men called easy company form the 101st airborne and there struggle during the war during several key events through out the duration of the entire war

this show follows the narrative sets by todorov in the second episode of this show because the episode starts well with an equilibrium where they are preparing to jump out of the plane and everything is good and them incomes a disruption where there company gets spread out and picked of as well as all of there men that survived the drop are either low on equipment supply's and are all in the wrong drop zone in enemy territory then they realize what has happened and mange to regroup in the correct area with what men they have left and then an attempt to restore the damage is taken because whats left of there company volunteers to help take out a set of German guns but unfortunately it causes them a lot of casualty and end up worse but a resolution is met and they manage to secure area and live to fight another day

the dark knight franchise
         
this story very well matches propps story due to its large range of characters such as

1. hero  (batman/Bruce Wayne)
2. villain (the joker / Bane)
3. donor (used to support and drive the story) (luscious fox)
4. helper (Blake / robin/ commissioner gorden)
5. princess (sometimes the prize) (Gotham city)
6. father (Alfred)
7. dispatcher (batman) (dispatches himself)
8. victim (Gotham city)
9. false villain (cat woman)
10. false hero (Miranda)
11. false victim (Miranda)

the hobbit franchise 

this one follows levi-strausses theory very well because there is a constant conflict between thorn oaken shield as the good and the hero but there is a villain azog the defiler this follows levi's theory because this shows a constant hatred and conflict between all three films which enviably ends in both dyeing at the end of battle oft he five army's on a frozen lake in a final showdown 

this shows levi-strausess theory very well being that they have a strong and constant conflict through out the trilogy showing his point very well