Narrative Structure (Unit 11)

The difference between a Story and a Narrative is that a story is the events that occur and a narrative is the way the events are portrayed. So you will most likely have one story to tell (story) however there are many ways you can tell the story(narrative). A Story includes a beginning, middle and end.

3 Act Narrative Structure

1. Equilibrium - Everything is as it should be, in a state of equal balance.
2. Disequilibrium - That order is disrupted by a key event. There is then a recognition of which the disorder has occurred.
3. New Equilibrium - There's an attempt of repairing the damage of the disruption. There is then a return/restoration of a new equilibrium at the end of the narrative.

Classic Hollywood Narrative Structure [Linear]

1. Exposition - Establishing Characters and key locations
2. Development - Get to know more about characters
3. Complication - Key event happens
4. Climax - Problem gets solved
5. Resolution - Happy Ending

Linear and Non-Linear

A linear narrative 'follows a straight line' meaning it starts at the beginning, then goes to the middle and then the ending, it's in a chronological order. However a  Non-Linear narrative will start with the middle of the story, so the issue of it, it'll then go back to the beginning, including 'flashbacks'. It's in a non-chronological order. An example of a Non-linear film is Pulp Fiction by Tarantino in 1995 and for an example of a Linear narrative film is Step Brothers by Adam McKay (2008).

Narrative Structure of Pulp Fiction

A diagram to show the order the film is shown

Breakdown of Pulp Fiction in 5 Act Structure

Pulp fiction is made up of 3 different stories which can be broken down into the 5 act structure, and throughout the film they overlap slightly.