Narrative structure of documentaries.

Open VS. Closed

• There are un answered questions or loose ends that need to be tied up at the end of the narrative.

• Usually left so audience make up their own minds.

• There are no unanswered questions or loose ends, the narrative is complete.

Single – Strand VS. Multi – Strand • There is one narrative thread that runs

throughout the whole narrative.• There are different narrative threads which

sometimes converge in the narrative.

Linear VS. Non – Linear • The events in the narrative follow

chronological order.• Doesn’t follow chronological order.

• Flashbacks and flash forwards.

Circular • The start and end points of the narrative are the same.