Narrative theories

Propp, Russian scholar – analyzed plot component of Russia/fairy folk talesCharacter types

Hero: in a way Red Riding Hood as we’re following her progress all the way through the book however the woodcutter could also be seen as the hero because he is the one who saves Red Riding Hood and her Grandma.

Villain: Is the wolf because he is the one who eats Grandma and tries to eat Red Riding hood.

Princess/prize: Grandma escaping from the wolf and being saved

Donor: Would probably be the woodcutter because he does not appear until the later stages of the book.

False Hero: Chancellor Palpatine, pretends to be good and help the Jedi at the start of Star Wars but turns out to be the Emperor of the Dark Side halfway through

Dispatcher: Little Red Riding Hood’s mother because she sets her on a journey to deliver some things to her Grandma’s.

Princess’ Dad: The King from Shrek 2

Todorov, building the story:

Stages

Equilibrium- day to day, everything in balance, not always positive or happy: Little Red Riding Hood leaving her Mother’s house for her Grandma’s to deliver some goods expecting a normal smooth journey.

Disequilibrium- an event happens which disrupts life. Rest of story revolves round resolving problem: Little Red Riding Hood passing on too much information to the wolf the wolf going to Grandma’s and eating her.

New equilibrium- end of story, new version of normal: When the wolf if defeated and they all go back to Grandma’s house, have tea and cakes.

Binary opposition, Claude Levi Strauss. Only a story when 2 opposing side’s conflict. Good v Evil, Men v Women, Police v Criminals, Young v Old, Humans v Aliens, Humans v Animals. My story is Humans v Animals as it is Little Red Riding Hood and the woodcutter trying to defeat the wolf.

Types of structureOpen: doesn’t reach a conclusion

Closed: Reaches a conclusion. Mine is closed as it concludes that the wolf is defeated and they all live happy ever after.

Single strand: Just one storyline. My story is a single strand as Little Red Riding Hood gets herself into a problem with the wolf eating Grandma and now wanting to eat her. The woodcutter meeting the wolf and solving the problem then follows this.

Multi strand: Is many different storylines

Linear: Linear, starts at beginning and finishes at the end. My story begins with Little Red Riding Hood leaving her mother’s house and ends with her at her Grandma’s house with Grandma and the Woodcutter having cake to celebrate solving the problem.

Non-linear: Does not go in a straight line. May include flashbacks.

Realist: Reflects real life

Non-realist: The opposite of realist. In my story the wolf swallows Grandma but somehow she is still alive, the woodcutter also hits the wolf with his axe, which merely causes him to release Grandma. In real life the wolf would have died