Danielle Conneely

Narrative Structure/Theory

A narrative is a spoken or a document which has events connected to e.g. make a story; its
a number of events which are in order that is set out to make a story.

Roland Barthes
Roland Barthes was born on the 12 November 1915 26 March 1980 he
was a French philosopher. Barthes ideas explored many range of fields
and he influenced the development of theories such as structuralism,
social theory, and design theory.
Barthes purpose was that he believed there was more than one way
to describe the meaning of a text. He suggested that texts can be
opened in many different ways and can be closed which shows
there was only one obvious way. Barthes had a strong belief that
narrative structures could be broken down into 5 different codes
you could use to evaluate the ways of realism.

which

The 5 codes:

Hermeneutic/Enigma Code

This was the code that refers to a mystery that goes on in the text there are many clues
dropped but no clear answers are given. They then add enigmas within the narrative as it
makes the audience want to know more about whats going on. By giving unanswered
enigmas it starts to annoy and frustrate the audience as they want to find out the mystery
within the narrative. This code is used often as it keeps the audience interested in the movie
and guessing whats going to happen till the end of the movie when the clues are solved.

Proairetic/Action Code

This code contains many elements of action in the text. The proairetic element adds
suspense to the text and it gains reaction from the audience. This is used by the build-up of
tension and gives off an impression that something is going to happen next. It makes the
audience very eager to find out whats going to go on.

Semantic Code

This code refers to parts of the text that suggests to other meanings there many elements in
the semantic code which are called Semes. The seme has a function in the text which has
an extra layer of meaning in addition to the actual meaning. It can also portray an element of
content throughout the film it creates a detail meaning with words allowing pictures to be
created by the author and by the audience as they imagine whats going to happen before
its shown.

Symbolic Code

This code adds symbolism into the text it shows opposites to show contrast and to create a
larger meaning which makes tension and drama. It then creates a character development as
a symbol can represent the character in ways to show the audience what they are like. With
symbolic code it goes into depth of the meaning which helps the author create more
developed ideas to then make conflict and oppositions such as contrast.

Culture Code

This code is aimed towards many different opinions and ideas of the cultural morality and
ideological knowledge. It helps create interest to the audience and they could relate to it as it
could attract a target audience as it could be based on an opinion or an idea about their

Danielle Conneely
cultural knowledge. It can also relate to external knowledge such as scientific and historical
as well as cultural knowledge.

Izetan Todorov
Todorov was a Bulgarian structuralist linguist that published
influential work on the narrative structure from 1960s. He
suggested that the stories began with equilibrium or a status
quo where they are opposing forces in balance. This would
then be interrupted by an event then making a chain of many
events this then would have problems solved so that in the
end the order is fixed and where the ending is successful.

Equilibrium

This is the 1st part of the narrative where there will be a happy
start
where most of the characters are content with each other and everything is going smoothly.
The atmosphere is neutral and the moods are happy and peaceful. This is when no
problems occur and its everyday routine.

Disruption

This is the 2nd part of the narrative where a problem will occur and it disrupts the happiness
and the atmosphere drops. The level of happiness is troubled and it can happen by a
problem occurring between the characters or with the surroundings they are in. This is when
anxiety starts to build up throughout the narrative.

Realisation/Recognition

This is the part of the plot when everyone realises the problem and it turns into chaos. It can
also by portray as an individual can realise that the equilibrium has dropped and will try and
fix it after many attempts to increase the equilibrium and to solve the problem.

Restore Order

This part of the plot is when the characters attempt to repair the damage and to restore the
problems. This is very similar to realisation/ recognition but its now when instead of an
individual, a group now realise to and start to help bring the equilibrium up again to how it as
in the beginning of the narrative.

Final Equilibrium

This is the final part of the plot where the problem is solved and normal life is started again.
It where the equilibrium has been fixed and the peace and happy atmosphere returns to the
narrative with no other bad atmosphere occurring.

Our Production
1. Equilibrium
In the beginning of our film the mother and daughter are happy and excited move
into the new house. There is a positive atmosphere as the 2 characters have
good vibes and nothing is going wrong. The moods are peaceful and relaxed.

2. Disruption
This is then when the mother finds the memory box and that there is an copy of her and that
she is dead, the mood then drops as the mother gets scared and goes to get her daughter
the mum then gets attacked by her copy and dies. The daughter is then brainwashed by the

Danielle Conneely
copy of her mum, this happens as a problem occurs and then the anxiety the built to a
climax.