Narrative Theory

• Narrative Codes


  Codes and conventions designed to maintain interest in a narrative/story
• Narration


  The way in which a story or sequence of events is put together in a media text. All media texts have some sort of narrative running through them.
• Diegesis


  The communication of a story from inside the world being represented. For example: diegetic sound has a source from inside the world being represented.
• Quest Narrative


  A story in which the protagonist works tirelessly towards a goal – chasing this goal becomes their passion
• Character Types


  Characters are defined by their actions and the role they play in the progression of a narrative
• Villain


  Causes some form of damage, misfortune or harm
• The Donor


  Assists the hero in defeating the villain and completing their quest
• The Helper


  Uses their force to help the hero acquire the information needed to remove the misfortune caused by the villain
• Damsel in Distress


  The hero embarks on a quest to rescue the princess (victim)
• Dispatcher


  Calls for help to resolve the problem
• Hero


  Stops the misfortune, damage or harm caused by the villain
• The False Hero


  Takes all the credit for the victory/new equilibrium
• Causality


  When one beat of the story leads naturally and logically to the next plot point
• Plot


  The main events of a storyline
• Masterplot


  A collection of broad story-types that are told in different contexts and across genres. For example, a quest narrative focuses on a protagonist's journey to reach a specific goal. This masterplot can be shaped in different ways and appears in genres as diverse as horror, fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, crime-drama etc.
• Narrative Structure


  The progression of a narrative from its start to the end. The arc refers to the building of narrative tension until a climactic moment creates a resolution.
• Equilibrium


  The status quo or normal state of affairs in a narrative
• Disequilibrium


  Unpredictability - when equilibrium is disrupted
• New Equilibrium


  The narrative journey is usually about the restoration of balance by solving the problems created by the disruption
• All Narratives share a basic structure that involves a movement from one state of equilibrium to another
• These two states of equilibrium are separated by a period of imbalance or disequilibrium
• The way in which narratives are resolved can have particular ideological significance