Research: Todorov's theory

 

• A narrative has a:  beginning, a middle, and an end.

• Toderov built on this idea and suggested there are actually five stages of a narrative: 

• The equilibrium: This is the world of the story at the beginning. It does not have to be perfect, however it is normally fairly balanced.

• The disruption: This is something that balances the equilibrium.

• The recognition of the disruption: This is where the main character’s realize there has been a disruption.

• The repair: This is where the main characters go to fix the disruption and restore the equilibrium. 

• The new equilibrium: Either the character’s restored the original equilibrium or there is a new equilibrium where things are not the same, but a new form of balance is restored.

• This theory can only be applied to linear narratives, and not fragmented narratives

• This theory can be used to identify aspects of the  ideologies of those who wrote and produced the film/narrative

• The equilibrium can show what they think the world should be like.

• The protagonist may have qualities that the writers and producers think are good traits to have

• The disruption can show the failures of a character or group of people and when you put the protagonist and the opposite side by side they they are normally polar opposites, clearly showing the creator’s ideas of ‘good’ and ‘evil’.