Monday, 29 October 2007

Narrative Theory - The Shining


Levi Strauss - Binary Opposites

Oppositions within the narrative

Good vs. Evil
Sane vs. Insane
Adults vs. Youth
Past vs. Present
Reality vs. Supernatural


Todorov - Narrative Structure

Equilibrium - Jack Torrance has a good family and seems to be a kind happy man.

Disruptions - Jack agrees to look after a mysterious hotel for the winter, he becomes mad and tries to kill his family.

Twarted attempts - The phone lines are down because of the storm, Jack breaks the radio, and Jack also breaks their snow vehicle.

Resolution - Wendy realises Jack has gone mad, and attempts to escape from him.

New Equilibrium - Wendy and Danny manage to escape the hotel, leaving Jack to freeze in the snow storm.


Barthes - Action and Enigma Codes

Action (one thing leading to another / what happens next?)

  • Jack gets the job as the caretaker
  • Danny goes into room 237
  • Wendy reads what Jack has been writing
  • Wendy blames Jack for Danny's bruises
  • Dick Hallorann comes to check if everything is ok
Enigma (things that create mystery)
  • What exactly is Danny's gift, The Shining?
  • Who is Tony?
  • What has 'Tony' told Danny about the Hotel?
  • Why does 'Tony' not want to go there?
  • Why should they not go near room 237?
  • Why does the butler say Jack has always been the caretaker there?
  • Why is Jack in the picture at the end that dates 1921?

Propp - Character Types

Protagonist - Danny
Antagonist - Jack
Helper - Wendy
Princess - Wendy
Donor - Dick Hallorann
Dispatcher - Dick, Wendy
Father figure - Jack, Dick, Wendy
False Hero - Dick

No comments: