todorov’s narrative theory pp
TRANSCRIPT
Todorov’s Narrative Theory
• Todorov suggested that storiesbegin with an equilibrium or status quo where any potentially opposing forcesare in balance. This is disrupted by some event, setting in chain a series ofevents. Problems are solved so that order can be restored to the world of thefiction creating a new equilibrium.
Todorov suggested that conventional narratives are structured in five stages:
• 1. a state of equilibrium at the outset;• 2. a disruption of the equilibrium by some action;• 3. a recognition that there has been a disruption;• 4. an attempt to repair the disruption;• 5. a reinstatement of the equilibrium• This type of narrative structure is very familiar to us
and can be applied to many ‘mainstream’ film narratives.
• For example, mean girls starts with the equilibrium that she is friends with Janice and Damian then the disruption happens when she becomes popular and falls out with them. Recognision happens my her parents who see that she has changed. She then tries to repair the situation by apologising to everyone.The new equilibrium is everyone becoming friends in the end.