Vladimir Propp was a Russian critic and a literary theorist, he analysed series of Russian folk tales, he noticed that the same event would occur in each story. He broke each tale down to the smallest units, which he called “narrative functions” this was vital for the

narrative to exist.

He also put characters in stories into categories like, the villain (antagonist), the donor, the helper, the princess, the dispatcher, the

hero, the false hero.

An example for Propps theory.

Tzvetan Todorov

Todorov is a Bulgarian philosopher. Who suggested that all stories began with equilibrium where everything is normal and the protagonist is happy, then this is disrupted by an outside force, the protagonist has to find a

way to return to the state of equilibrium. This theory can be

Todorov is a Bulgarian philosopher. Who suggested that all stories began with equilibrium where everything is normal and the protagonist is happy, then this is disrupted by an outside force, the protagonist has to find a

way to return to the state of equilibrium. This theory can be

Roland Barthes

Ronald Barthes was a French literary theorist, philosopher, critic and

semiotician. Barthes suggested five codes that can be seen in any narrative.

The Hermeneutic Code: this is where the story avoids telling the truth, but does

show clues to keep mystery.

The Enigma Code: a way the tension is built up keeping audiences of

The symbolic code: this is where the code is used to show a meaning of the story usually by connotations.

The cultural code: a narrative device to show the audience the cultural background.

The Semantic code: similar to the symbolic code but uses denotations rather than connotations.

Claude Levis-Strauss

Levis-Strauss was a social anthropologist, who studied myths of tribal cultures. He analysed various myths and he noticed that they unconsciously reflected the values and beliefs of culture. These ideas were seen in the form of binary oppositions. Levis-Strauss wasn’t interested in which order they came. Good Bad

Equilibrium: The teenagers are hanging out and come across a sign saying no entry. Being curious they break open the gate to have a look.

Disequilibrium: one of the teenagers sees a glimpse of the antagonist and begins to get worried.

Recognition of the disruption: they begin to get worried and try to leave, but the gate is closed.

An attempt to repair the damage: they start hearing noises and run away, and the antagonist follows them, to kill them.

New equilibrium: The teens are found dead by the police and no one knows who did it.

The teenagers are hanging around, they break open a gate which says “no entry” to see what’s behind the gate.

The teenagers are looking around, but one of the teenagers sees a glimpse of the antagonist.

They try to leave but they can’t as the gate is locked, the teenagers begin to get worried.

The trailer ends with the false hero about to get killed by the antagonist.