NARRATIVE STRUCTURE

OPEN VS CLOSED

Open Loose ends Questions left

unanswered For example a Soap

Opera, such as Corrination Street, where each end of an episode is left very open and the end is not definitive.

Closed No loose ends Everything tied up so

there are no unanswered questions

An example of this is the Disney fim Finding Nemo, where all of the audiences questions are answered at the end such as ‘is Marlin ever going to find Nemo?’

SINGLE-STRAND VS MULTI-STRAND

Single-Strand A Single-Strand

narrative structure is one with only one storyline.

An example of this in use is the Disney film Toy Story, where the story focuses solely on the Toys life in their owner’s bedroom.

Multi-Strand A Multi-Strand

documentary contains multiple threads/storylines.

These multiple threads/storylines eventually end up crossing over and often combine.

This is shown best in the popular Soap EastEnders, where all of the different families lives are entwined in different ways.

LINEAR VS NON-LINEAR

Linear A Linear narrative

structure follows chronological order.

For example, this may mean that it follows time order so that it progresses from the conception of something to modern day.

An example of this is The World at War, a TV documentary that re-lives the Second World War in time order.

Non-Linear A Non-Linear narrative

structure does not follow chronological order.

There is often many flash backs/flash forwards.

A famous example of this is Pulp Fiction, a film directed by Quentin Tarantino. One scene is shown at the start and end however for it to make sense, the middle of the film is needed