Narrative Theory

Narrative is a structure of a story or plot, it is the art of story telling whether it be fictional or non fictional. The narrative theory explores the conventions of:

• Genre
• Character
• Form
• Time

The way I think of a narrative theory is as a circular formation, the outer circle contains the "Story" which includes information not shown and the inner circle is the "Plot" which includes the Key events of the story.


A Linear Structure is,

1. A Beginning (Audience introduced to characters and the story)
2. A Middle (Key events)
3. The End (Closure)

An Open Structure which I believe my A2 coursework falls into the category of. The audience are left to wonder what happends next and they have to make sense of it themselves. My coursework is not a story as such, so it makes it difficult to relate to a narrative theory.

A Closed Structure is when there is a definite ending too a story. There will be a clear conclusion for the audience.

The Circular Structure, the narrative begins at the end event, (often with the climax.) The audience are taken on a journey arriving back to where the characters started. An example of this structure could be "The Hangover" films.

An Unrestricted Narrative, this is what the audience are assumed to know. For example in a thriller movie there will be a crime, so the audience expect it.

Restriced Narrative, this is when information is witheld from the audience. I thought of this narrative to be what "Shutter island" the movie is classed as. At the end of this movie there is an open ending with makes the audience think they have not been shown or told of all the information of the story.