Task 9 - Narrative Structure !!

Types of narrative structure:!!Open:!An open narrative is a story that continues after a single installation. The story can continue to evolve and progress indefinitely. An example of this is soap opera, every day a new 20 minute story segment is broadcast with no definitive ending. Some have been running for decades and the cast and characters have been entirety replaced with newer generations of cast members. It is not a requirement of open narrative stories to continue with no ultimate end, long running television shows such as Lost, Breaking Bad and Friends are also a form of open narrative. As the short children’s book I have made has a beginning, middle and end all in the same sitting it does not fall under the category of open narrative. !!Closed:!A closed narrative is the opposite of an open narrative. The story is self contained. In one sitting the entire story can be experienced. Most films are in this format examples include Trainsporting, The Shawshank Redemption, Hot Fuzz. What these films all have in common is that there is a beginning, a middle and an end within the planned time frame of the film. My children’s book if a perfect example of a closed narrative story. The story is very simplistic it ends with no further plot elements left to be concluded. !!Single-Strand:!A single strand narrative has just a single plot line. There are no secondary sub-plots or alternative perspectives to view the story from. More complicated stories will have layers of different events unfolding as the story is told, however this is more difficult for children to understand. On this bases it is rare to find a children’s book that is not a single-strand narrative. I have kept to this guide and a single strand story. The story follows the main character, Lucas, through every page of the book. The audience does not know anything that Lucas doesn’t.!!Mulit-Strand:!A multi-strand story is one that has many separate/connected events being told to the audience. Commonly, all these sub plot come together to assist the main story. This kind of story consists of at least two or more stories unfolding over the duration of the episode/book/film. Simpsons episodes usually work on this bases. For example Homer will have a story and Lisa will also have a story. Usually on is dominant and the other is supporting, they do not always have relevance to eachother but they can. In some stories the intention is that all the separate events come together to climax at the end. Snatch, Pulp Fiction, A Game of Thrones all have very entwining narratives. My children’s book does not feature this kind of narrative structure.!!Linear:!A linear narrative takes place in chronological order. Each event we are shown is happening one after the other in the same order that the characters in the story are perceiving time pass in. This is a very common way of depicting a story. Here are some examples; Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Gran Torino. My book has a linear narrative structure

as it would confuse children if the story events were to jump around in a non-coherent way. The events are as seen by Lucas, he wakes up, he walks up the mountain etc..!!Non-Linear:!A non linear story is a story that does not present scenes in the order that they actually happened. A scene may be shown and further into the film a scene may be shown that took place before the previous scene. This method of story telling can make for very engrossing viewing, however is inappropriate for children. Quentin Tarantino likes to make film in a non linear style; Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill are good examples Sin City also does this (produced by Tarantino). I avoided making a story that uses a non-linear structure in my book.!!Realist:!A realist narrative is a story based on events that could feasibly happen. An event in a realist narrative would not include anything farfetched such as magic, aliens, ghosts, superpowers. Examples of realist narratives are as follows; Notting Hill, Friends, The Office. My story is a realist narrative, there is not anything that could not happen in a hypothetical reality. !!Anti-Realist:!In an anti-realist narrative the story can include elements that are unrealistic. These elements are purely fantasy and have no bearing in reality. Science-fiction writing is a good example. For example Star Wars is an anti-realist narrative as space ships, lightsaber and the force does not exist. My book does not contain any anti-realist elements making it a realist narrative. !!!Components:!!Opening:!The opening of a story is the setting in which the entail scene is presented. In the case of my book it begins as Lucas is walking towards the mountain.!!Conflict:!The conflict in a story is an event that upsets the equilibrium and sets the events of the rest of the story in motion. There is not a conflict as such in my story however an example of one would be in Gran Torino when the neighbour's fight spills onto Walt’s lawn.!!Resolution:!The resolution of the story is the final outcome after the events of the story. Using my book as an example after Lucas is put through the experience with the goat he swears he will never lie again. As an alternative example Lord of the Rings ends as Frodo returns to the shire after having destroyed the ring.!!Enigma:!An enigma in narrative terms is a plot point that is unknown to the viewer, and usually the character/s. The “Sherlock” television series is built on the foundation that the viewer does not understand what is going on. It is up the the characters to diciest the puzzle for the audience’s entertainment. This is also the basis for the film “memento”. My story does not have a enigma featured as it is a children’s book. !

Climax:!The climax of the story is the moment that the events of the story have been building unto. This moment will typically decide who the resolution will turn out. For example The Good the Bad and the Ugly’s climax is the three way duel in the graveyard. In my story the climax is the moment that Lucas encounters the goat wile up the mountain.!!Manipulation of time and space:!In a story it is common for the scenes to occur in different orders. It is also possible for the characters with in the story to manipulate time. Back to the future is an example of this and also the third harry potter film. However time can be manipulated in other ways for example in Inception there is the scene when the van is falling off the bridge and there are several different dream states with different time speeds. Otherwise manipulation of time does not need to be something relevant to the plot , for example in 300 the effect is only for the visual interest of the viewers.!