Narrative Structure

TYPES OF NARRATIVES

LINEAR NARRATIVE

• clear beginning, middle and end
• follows a chronological time frame
• action A leads to action B which leads to action C etc.

FRAGMENTED NARRATIVE

• non-linear, disrupted or disjointed narratives
• multiple narratives at once
• do not have a clear beginning, middle and end
• events or actions may be shown out of chronological order
• narrative technique that can help to show parallel stories, a story within a story, dreams etc within the same episode
• seen to more closely replicate the way the human mind works
• they make audience participate in the story to try and piece the story together- enigma codes (Roland Barthes)

RESTRICTED NARRATIVE

• experience story through senses and thoughts of main character
• almost always main character (protagonist)
• narrative cannot tell audience things character doesn't know, find out things same time as character

OMNIPRESENT NARRATIVE

• a panoramic, all seeing, view of the world of the story, not just one characters point of view
• point of view of many characters, experience/feelings within story
• helps audience see broader background to the story from a number of contexts
• used for telling stories within the context, views and feelings of many characters are important

NARRATIVE ENDINGS

CLOSED ENDINGS

OPEN ENDINGS

• when an episode or season ends with a cliff hanger
• story-telling technique
• can be unsatisfying for audiences
• in LFTVD, open endings indicate there will be continuation of the story, or possible resolution, in the next episode
• encourage viewer to continue watching