Theorists

Todorov

Todorov's narrative theory claims that all plot lines follow the same base pattern and this pattern is split into 5 separate steps. These steps are:

1. Equilibrium
2. Disruption of the equilibrium
3. Recognition of the disruption
4. An attempt is made to repair the equilibrium
5. newly found equilibrium

This theory can be applied to many mainstream film narratives including 'Lord of the rings' and 'Spiderman.'


Propp

Propp identified a theory about characters in a novel/ narrative. According to Propp, all characters have a narrative function meaning that they provide a structure for the text.

These characters identified were as follows

• Hero
• Villain
• Prince/Princess 

Prop's theory followed the idea that the protagonist would be the 'Hero' in a piece and would come into conflict with the antagonist (Villain) throughout the narrative.


Levi Strauss

Levi Strauss believed in the idea of binary opposition throughout a film narrative. This is the evident contrasts between people, groups or states of being.

Some well known examples of these are:

• Cats vs Dogs
• Good vs Evil
• Life vs Death
• Black vs White

Strauss believed that all conflict in a narrative was based around these oppositions and the conflict would be the climax of the entire narrative.