Unit 10: Narrative Principles

Question 1

Narrative Form

Answer 1

The organizing framework of a film

Question 2

Plot

Answer 2

In a narrative film, all the events that are directly presented to us, including their causal
relations, chronological order, duration, frequency, and spatial locations.

Question 3

Story

Answer 3

In a narrative film, all the events that we see and hear, plus all those that we infer or assume to
have occurred, arranged in their presumed causal relations, chronological order, duration,
frequency, and spatial locations

Question 4

Fabula (Story)

Answer 4

A chronological and complete account of all events in a narrative.

Question 5

Syuzhet (Plot)

Answer 5

An abbreviated, reorganized version of events that plays out on the screen for the audience.

Question 6

Order

Answer 6

In a narrative film, the aspect of temporal manipulation that involves the sequence in which the
chronological events of the story are arranged in the plot.

Question 7

Frequency

Answer 7

In a narrative film, the aspect of temporal manipulation that involves the number of times any
story event is shown in the plot.

Question 8

Duration

Answer 8

in a narrative film, the aspect of temporal manipulation that involves the time span presented
in the plot and assumed to operate in the story

Question 9

Running Time, Screen Time or Viewing Time

Answer 9

the time it takes to watch a film when its projected at the appropriate speed.

Question 10

Linear Chronology

Answer 10

Plot events and actions that proceed one after another as a forward movement in time

Question 11

Deadline Structure

Answer 11

A narrative structure that accelerates the action and plot toward a central event or action that
must be accomplished by a certain time.

Question 12

Retrospective plot

Answer 12

A plot that tells of past events from the perspective of the present or future.

Question 13

Flashbacks

Answer 13

An alteration of story order in which the plot moves back to show events that have taken place
earlier than ones already shown.

Question 14

Flashforward

Answer 14

An alteration of story order in which the plot presentation moves forward to future events,
then returns to the present.

Question 15

Narration

Answer 15

The process through which the plot conveys or withholds story information. The
narration can be more or less restricted to character knowledge and more or less deep in
presenting characters’ mental perceptions and thoughts

Question 16

Two basic types of film narration

Answer 16

restricted
unrestricted (omniscient)

Question 17

Restricted narration

Answer 17

Limits the audience’s view of events to that of the main character (s) in the film

Question 18

Omniscient narration

Answer 18

We know more, we see and hear more, than any of the characters can

Question 19

First Person Narration

Answer 19

Some films use a narrator, a character or other person whose voice and perspective describe
the action of the film from the point of view outside the story.
A standard device to mark the presence and perspective of that narrator is the voiceover
commentary.

Question 20

Multiple Narrations

Answer 20

Found in films that use several different narrative perspectives for a single story or for different
stories in a movie that loosely fits these perspectives together.

Question 21

Unreliable Narration (manipulative narration)

Answer 21

A type of narration that raises questions about the truth of the story being told.

Question 22

Episodic Narrative

Answer 22

In general, an episodic narrative is a story that relates a single episode or event which in turn
relates to a series of events that may not be closely connected. Episodic narrative could also tell
a story of someone’s search for an important goal but it goes unresolved

Question 23

Narrative frame

Answer 23

A context or person positioned outside the principal narrative of a film, such as bracketing
scenes in which a character in the story’s present begins to relate events of the past and later
concludes her or his tale.

Question 24

Classical Hollywood Narrative

Answer 24

Clarity
Unity
Goal Oriented Characters
Closure

Question 25

Clarity

Answer 25

Viewers should not be confused about space, time or events.

Question 26

Unity

Answer 26

Cause and effect connections are direct and complete

Question 27

Goal Oriented Characters

Answer 27

they are active and invite identification

Question 28

Closure

Answer 28

loose ends are tied up, often through romantic union

Question 29

Protagonist

Answer 29

A film’s main character, one whose conflicts and motives drive the story forward.

Question 30

Antagonist

Answer 30

A character who in some way opposes the protagonist, leading to protracted conflict

Question 31

Denouement

Answer 31

The unraveling action after the climax of a narrative that leads to resolution

Question 32

Closure

Answer 32

A characteristic of conventional narrative form, where the conclusion of the film wraps up all
loose ends in a form of resolution, though not necessarily a happy one.

Question 33

Narrative Structure:

Answer 33

The standard pattern that shapes narrative film is the Three-act Structure.

Question 34

Act One

Answer 34

introduces characters, goals and conflicts, and end with a first turning point, which
causes a shift to Act Two.

Question 35

Act Two

Answer 35

Protagonist meets obstacles

Question 36

Act Three

Answer 36

Presents the denouement, a series of events that resolves the conflicts that have
arisen—not always happily.

Question 37

In the four-part structure

Answer 37

1. Exposition leads to turning point
2. Complicating action leads to major turning point at halfway mark.
3. Development: struggle toward goal leads to climax
4. Epilogue

Question 38

Variations on Narrative Conventions

Answer 38

Lack of clarity
Lack of Unity
Open-endedness
Unconventional characterizations
Intrusions

Question 39

Lack of clarity

Answer 39

multiple, conflicting lines of action

Question 40

Lack of Unity

Answer 40

Broken chain of cause and effect

Question 41

Open-endedness

Answer 41

Questions are left unanswered or conflicts unresolved

Question 42

Unconventional Characterizations

Answer 42

Audience is distanced from characters rather than invited to identify
Characters contemplate or talk about action rather than taking action
Characters goals are unclear
Narrators may be unreliable

Question 43

Intrusions

Answer 43

direct address to the audience

other devices call attention to the narrative as a process

Question 44

opening “in media res”

Answer 44

in the middle of things