Narratology

Narratology

Narratology can be defined as a ‘branch of knowledge or criticism that deals with the structure and function of narrative and its themes, conventions, and symbols’.

This analysis of narrative can be broken down into a number of ways:

narrative structures
narrative endings
story beats
character arcs

1. How is the episode, and the way the events unfold within it, structured?
The episode relates to Todorov’s narratology theory as at the beginning of the episode the equilibrium is established through the group of boys playing dungeons and dragons. As the episode continues this equilibrium is disrupted as Will Byers disappears after being chased by an unknown presence which, after the realisation of the equilibrium, leads to a police investigation. The attempt to resolve the disruption is illustrated as the group of boys search for Will by themselves as they acknowledge that the police are inefficient. As this is only one episode in the series the disruption has not yet been resolved as Will has not been found which therefore discredits Todorov’s theory however we can assume that there will be a resolution and therefore a new equilibrium in later episodes. In some elements the episode does not relate to Todorov's theory as the structure alternates due to multiple storylines which creates multiple equilibriums (for example Hopper's equilibrium would be waking up on the sofa and going to work expecting little work however this is disrupted with the disappearance of Will).

2. How does the episode begin and finish?
The episode beings with an establishing shot of a night sky and a industrial and utilitarian building followed by a tracking shot of a scientist running from an unknown threat. This shot establishes the setting and the villain through what we perceive to be the death of an innocent as the shot changes just before the monster reaches the scientist. The broken lighting and dark atmosphere relates closely to the horror genre and links with 80s films such as Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and Alien. The episode then ends with a similar eerie atmosphere as the group of boys search for Will with torches relating to E.T 

3. What are the story beats between the beginning and end of the episode?

Story beats are the points of action upon which you hang your basic story. When you connect the actual individual action points, they build up to story, like a puzzle. These are the story moments that are the X happens, and then Y happens… and then Z happens… and on.

The scientist is chased by the monster
Mike, Will, Lucas and Dustin play dungeons and dragons in Mike's basement.
Dustin offers pizza to Nancy
The boys leave on bikes and argue over comics
Will bikes off and falls
He is chased by a monster and runs into the shed
the light in the shed flashes and Will disappears
Joyce Byers rings Karen (Mike's mum) and the disturbance of the equilibrium is established
The scene changes to Hopper waking up on a sofa
He arrives at work to Joyce in a panic about her son
Mike, Dustin and Lucas arrive at school
Nancy and Steve 'make out' in the bathroom as Nancy is late for her lesson
Mr Clarke shows the boys the radio
The headmaster calls the boys into his office where they are questioned by Hopper
Eleven runs into a diner and steals chips
The chef threatens her then attempts to gain her trust as he rings social services
Hopper searches Wills house

4. How is the pace set by the narrative structure and the events as they unfold? Does this support or challenge the narrative conventions of the genre?

5. Are there multiple story-lines and how are these set up within the narrative structure? What are the benefits of multiple story-lines?

6. How can these help to develop the media form of Long Form TV Drama?

7. How can these additional story-lines attract an audience?

8. How effective is this structure in the way in which it communicates multiple meanings? Refer to examples from Stranger Things.

9. How does the chosen narrative structure help reinforce the genre conventions (science-fiction/horror) of the product?