CLAUDE LEVI-STRAUSS: Binary Opposition.
- He was less interested in the order of events in narratives and more interested on the themes underneath. He argued that narrative depended on binary opposites or conflicts between two terms, e.g. good and bad.
TORODOV devised a way of analysing narratives by the way they move through different stages.
Break down narrative into 5 stages:
Equilibrium: Setting is established.
Disruption: The story takes a particular direction.
Recognition of Disruption: Characters and events are interwoven.
Attempt to Repair Disruption: Try to solve the issue.
Reinstatement of Equilibrium: Matters are sorted out, problems are solved and questions answered.
VLADAMIR PROPP
Propp suggested that in any story there are only ever a limited amount of character types, each of whom has their own purpose in the narrative.
Hero: The main character around which the narrative is centred. Normally has some kind of mission or quest, e.g. Shrek.
Heroine/Princess: Acts as a reward for the Hero succeeding in his mission/quest, e.g. Princess Fiona.
Princesses Father: Hero must win approval from Father in order to win the Princess, e.g. Shrek, being an ogre, must prove to the King that he is right for his daughter.
Villain: Seeks to stop Hero from succeeding in his mission, e.g. Prince Charming.
Donor/Mentor: Gives hero important information or a magic item to help them, e.g. Puss In Boots.
Helper: Accompanies hero but cannot always complete question themselves, e.g. Donkey.
AN EXAMPLE OF NARRATIVE:
The Equilibrium in The Lion King is Pride Rock and all the animals being in harmony with each other, we can tell this from the song 'The Circle of Life'.
The disruption in the film is when Simba's curiosity leads him to go out of his kingdom and face his evil uncle Scar, however Scar's plan to kill Simba fails and he is left with the idea of killing the current king too, enabling Scar to become King. Scar is successful in killing the King but unsuccessful in killing Simba. The Recognition of disruption is when Simba runs away and this allows Scar to become King of Pride Rock. Simba attempts to repair the disruption by coming back as an adult lion to challenge scar and gain his rightful place as King. He manages to defeat Scar and restore Pride Rock to how it was before Simba's father was killed - this is the reinstatement of equilibrium.
Based on Propps Character idea:
Hero - Simba
Heroine/Princess - This could be seen as Nala, however in this case I would say that Pride Rock would be the prize for defeating Scar.
Villain: Scar (Simba's evil uncle)
Donor/Mentor: Rafikki
Helper: Timone and Pumba.