Theory

Clause Levi-Strauss (1908-2009)

Binary opposites-

Good v Evil

Black v White

Tall v Short

Old v Young

Valdimir Propp (1895-1970)

Example- James bond, Gold Finger

Character roles-

James bond- The hero, the character who seeks something

Gold Finger- The villain

Q- The donor, who produces an object with some magic property

Felix Leither- The helper, aids the hero

Pussy Galore- The princess, reward for the hero and often an object of the villains schemes

Father- Rewards the hero

M- The dispatcher, who sends the hero on his way

The false hero- seems to be heroic initially but turns out to be evil or a red herring

Red Herring- A character or object that is introduced as seemingly important, it is left behind/forgotten/never mentioned again. Turns out to been of  no importance.

Tzvetan Todrov (1939-   )

All stories begin with an equilibrium, this is disrupted then resorted. A classic beginning, middle, and end structure.  3 PART NARRATIVE STRUCTURE.

1-      Equilibrium

2-      Disruption of equilibrium

3-      Restoration of equilibrium or a new equilitrium

In films and TV the ‘hero’ can be male or female- someone who moves the story forward e.g. Bridget Jones, Home Simpson, James bond.