Someone has illustrated the story of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in the shape of a map.
Deconstructing Narratives
Separating Plot And Story
Think of a feature film, and jot down a) the strict chronological order in which events occur b) the order in which each of the main characters finds out about these events a) shows story, b) shows plot construction. Plot keeps audiences interested eg) in whether the children will discover Mrs Doubtfire is really their father, or shocks them, eg) the 'twist in the tale" at the end of The Sixth Sense. Identifying Narrator Who is telling this story is a vital question to be asked when analysing any media text. Stories may be related in the first or third person, POVs may change, but the narrator will always
- reveal the events which make up the story
- mediate those events for the audience
- evaluate those events for the audience
The narrator also tends to POSITION the audience into a particular relationship with the characters on the screen.