Todorov, Barthes Enigma Codes and Propp Kurt

Todorov Theory

Attributes of dramatis personae
Transformation of the tale
The problem
The method and material

A tale usually begins with some sort of initial situation. The members of a family are enumerated or the future hero is simply introduced by mention of their name or indication of their status. (This is shown in our film with a group of friends around a board and a disturbance happens that causes them to go into shock and panic, whilst the main future hero is introduced by them appearing confident and talking clearly, addressing the group significantly with their influence.

The interdiction is violated. A new personae who is teemed as the villain enters; their role is to disturb the peace of a happy bunch. To cause some form of misfortune damage or harm. (This is in the form of the demon girl that wants to bring death breaking up part of the friendship group as the friends split up in their struggle to survive)

The villain attempts to deceive the victim in order to take possession of them or their belongings. (The Ouija board is the main thing which deceives them and the little girl)

The villain assumes a disguise in the guise of a young innocent looking girl, the doll the emphasis on this naivety and innocence, pretending to be sweet natured at the start of the trailer.

Propp- we considered even though his theory is mostly associated with fairytale, we used the basic idea of characters, the villain, the hero, the helper
Todarov( pace to our drama)
Bookends
Barthes enigma codes

We have used the five steps theory put forward by Todorov about narrative also.

1. A state of equilibrium (there is a girls sleepover at a house)
2. A disruption of the equilibrium (the Ouija board in introduced)
3. Recognition of the disruption (supernatural things start happening, as the spirit world is happening, that makes the girls afraid and act)
4. Repair of the disruption (escaping and closing the spirit world again)
5. Restoration of the early equilibrium. (The ghost eventually is defeated, exorcised and the house can go back to being normal again)

we have also considered Barthes’ Enigma Code, this is what the audience uses to try and guess the end of the narrative giving the audience more pleasure in watching, and in order to do this we have put some predictable elements in there such as the sinister beginning and frightening ending.