Tzvetan Todorov's theory of narratology

Key terms for the theory:

Plot= the events that happen in a story
Narrative= the way the story is told
Ideology= a set of values or beliefs

What is the theory?

• Todorov established a three part narrative that tended to occur in most texts:
• 1) Equilibrium- everything is equal and balanced 
• 2) Disequilibrium- something disrupts this balance and attempts are made to repair it
• 3) New equilibrium- a happy ending (typically)
• This structure can usually be applied to texts however sometimes it is subverted 
• How does ideology tie in?
• "all the characters’ actions can be presented as the product of some very simple and abstract rules; these rules in turn refer to the organising ideology of the work as a whole" - Todorov
• It is important to consider the ideology being presented in the text, especially at the 'new equilibrium' stage of narrative 

So overall..?

The theory looks at the typical structure of a text and how the text moves from one stage to another