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Narrative theory

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Theo Perry
Theo Perry

Levi-Strauss analyzed myths and found they involve conflicts between binary opposites like good vs evil, young vs old. Propp identified common character roles in stories like the villain, donor, and hero. He said narratives typically involve 8 main characters fulfilling these roles. Todorov proposed stories follow a structure of equilibrium, disruption, recognition, attempt to repair, climax, protagonist triumphs, and new equilibrium. When applied to The Shining, this shows the equilibrium of the family driving to the hotel, various disruptions hinting at danger there, their recognition and attempt to escape, the climax of Jack chasing them, Danny defeating Jack, and their escape restoring a new equilibrium, though the hotel's implied lingering

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Narrative theory
Levi-Strauss Levi-Strauss studied myths and legends and came to the conclusion that we identify the world through binary opposites. He found that narratives always had a conflict between these binary opposites. Good - Evil Handsome - Ugly Young - Old Boy - Girl Strong - Weak Black - White
Vladimir Propp Character roles: The villain: Struggles against the hero. The donor: prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object. The (magical) helper: helps the hero in his quest. The princess or prize: the hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her because of an unfair evil, usually because of the villain. the hero's journey is often ended when he marries the princess, thereby beating the villain. Princess's father: gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished. The dispatcher: Character who makes the lack known and send the hero off. The hero: Reacts to the donor, weds the princess The false hero: Takes credit for the hero's actions or tries to marry the princess. Propp believed that all narrative structures had 8 main characters, some of which could play several roles: 1. The villain (Grady/The Hotel) - Makes jack kill Halloran and attempt to kill Wendy and Danny. 2. The Donor (Halloran) - Gives Danny knowledge of 'The shining', warns him of the hotel room and provides the Snow- cat. 3. The (magical) helper (Halloran/Tony) - Halloran senses Danny's in trouble and comes to help, Tony helps to warn Danny and Wendy of their danger (redruM/Murder). 4. The princess or prize (Wendy) - Is a reward to Danny once they've escaped. 5. Princess's father (?) 6. The dispatcher (Halloran?) - Warns Danny of the room? 7. The hero (Danny) - Fools Jack/Grady leading the his death. 8. The false hero (Jack) - Is presumed to be the protagonist at the beginning of the movie. Mostly this theory works, but only loosely. I think it could be applied to most narratives, but occasionally there would be some difficulty. The good thing about Propps theory is that it forces you to think about the characters a lot more in depth, giving you a better awareness of the film itself.
Todorov Todorov believed that the narrative structure would follow a specific series of events. Equilibrium: this is where all sides of the narrative are balanced. Disruption: something that could be disturbing this balance is brought to the attention of the viewer. Recognition: the protagonist realises the disruption. Attempt to repair: the protagonist tries to resolve the issue to re-balance the sides. Battle of some sort: this is usually the high point for the viewer, and is where the protagonist confronts the disturbance or is confronted by the disturbance. Protagonist triumphs: the protagonist defeats the evil and is usually rewarded with the princess character. New equilibrium: this is the return to the balance of each side of the narrative.
Todorov and 'The shining': Equilibrium: Driving to job interview, no problems. Disruption: Jack is told about the murders in the hotel. Numerous other things hint at something bad e.g. 'tony' doesn't want to go and Halloran mentions the room in which the murders happened. Recognition of the disruption: Wendy wants to take Danny away from hotel because of the bad things happening. Jack wont leave, and Wendy clearly sees that Jack isn't himself. Attempt to repair: Wendy knocks Jack out and locks him in the store room in order to get away in the snow-cat with Danny. Danny makes contact with Halloran in an attempt for help. Battle of some sort: Jack gets out of the store room, kills Halloran and chases Wendy and Danny. Protagonist triumphs: Danny tricks Jack by leading him the wrong way in the maze. Jack dies and Danny and Wendy escape via the snow-cat Halloran drove there. (Wendy (the 'princess' being Danny 'the protagonists' prize.) New equilibrium: Wendy and Danny have escaped and are presumed to now be safe. Even though Wendy and Danny escape from danger, being a horror film it is implied at the end through the photograph of jack as the butler of the hotel in the 1920's that the hotel is still not safe, with some sort of omen lurking within it.

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Narrative theory

  • 2. Levi-Strauss Levi-Strauss studied myths and legends and came to the conclusion that we identify the world through binary opposites. He found that narratives always had a conflict between these binary opposites. Good - Evil Handsome - Ugly Young - Old Boy - Girl Strong - Weak Black - White
  • 3. Vladimir Propp Character roles: The villain: Struggles against the hero. The donor: prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object. The (magical) helper: helps the hero in his quest. The princess or prize: the hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her because of an unfair evil, usually because of the villain. the hero's journey is often ended when he marries the princess, thereby beating the villain. Princess's father: gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished. The dispatcher: Character who makes the lack known and send the hero off. The hero: Reacts to the donor, weds the princess The false hero: Takes credit for the hero's actions or tries to marry the princess. Propp believed that all narrative structures had 8 main characters, some of which could play several roles: 1. The villain (Grady/The Hotel) - Makes jack kill Halloran and attempt to kill Wendy and Danny. 2. The Donor (Halloran) - Gives Danny knowledge of 'The shining', warns him of the hotel room and provides the Snow- cat. 3. The (magical) helper (Halloran/Tony) - Halloran senses Danny's in trouble and comes to help, Tony helps to warn Danny and Wendy of their danger (redruM/Murder). 4. The princess or prize (Wendy) - Is a reward to Danny once they've escaped. 5. Princess's father (?) 6. The dispatcher (Halloran?) - Warns Danny of the room? 7. The hero (Danny) - Fools Jack/Grady leading the his death. 8. The false hero (Jack) - Is presumed to be the protagonist at the beginning of the movie. Mostly this theory works, but only loosely. I think it could be applied to most narratives, but occasionally there would be some difficulty. The good thing about Propps theory is that it forces you to think about the characters a lot more in depth, giving you a better awareness of the film itself.
  • 4. Todorov Todorov believed that the narrative structure would follow a specific series of events. Equilibrium: this is where all sides of the narrative are balanced. Disruption: something that could be disturbing this balance is brought to the attention of the viewer. Recognition: the protagonist realises the disruption. Attempt to repair: the protagonist tries to resolve the issue to re-balance the sides. Battle of some sort: this is usually the high point for the viewer, and is where the protagonist confronts the disturbance or is confronted by the disturbance. Protagonist triumphs: the protagonist defeats the evil and is usually rewarded with the princess character. New equilibrium: this is the return to the balance of each side of the narrative.
  • 5. Todorov and 'The shining': Equilibrium: Driving to job interview, no problems. Disruption: Jack is told about the murders in the hotel. Numerous other things hint at something bad e.g. 'tony' doesn't want to go and Halloran mentions the room in which the murders happened. Recognition of the disruption: Wendy wants to take Danny away from hotel because of the bad things happening. Jack wont leave, and Wendy clearly sees that Jack isn't himself. Attempt to repair: Wendy knocks Jack out and locks him in the store room in order to get away in the snow-cat with Danny. Danny makes contact with Halloran in an attempt for help. Battle of some sort: Jack gets out of the store room, kills Halloran and chases Wendy and Danny. Protagonist triumphs: Danny tricks Jack by leading him the wrong way in the maze. Jack dies and Danny and Wendy escape via the snow-cat Halloran drove there. (Wendy (the 'princess' being Danny 'the protagonists' prize.) New equilibrium: Wendy and Danny have escaped and are presumed to now be safe. Even though Wendy and Danny escape from danger, being a horror film it is implied at the end through the photograph of jack as the butler of the hotel in the 1920's that the hotel is still not safe, with some sort of omen lurking within it.

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