Narrative theory.

PROPP

Propp's theory theory of narrative states that every story has a similar set of characters which fit into a set criteria of character functions;

1. The villain — struggles against the hero. Could be considered Jack, or the hotel itself.
2. The donor — prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object. Could be Dick, as he makes danny aware of his ability.
3. The (magical) helper — helps the hero in the quest.
4. The princess or prize — the hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her because of an unfair evil, usually because of the villain. the hero's journey is often ended when he marries the princess, thereby beating the villain. Wendy and Danny.
5. her father — gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished.
6. The dispatcher — character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.
7. The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess. The hero could be Danny or Wendy.
8. False hero — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess. This could be either Jack or Dick.

While this theory can be used to identify some of the characters in The Shining, it is hard to make them to the other  character functions.

TODOROV

Todorov's theory of narrative states that stories have a series of stage that break and repair an equlibrium, a disruption of the normal.



In the The Shining it is possible to map the events against this theory, as there is a normality, an enigma, a disruption to the equilibrium, and a resoloution.
CLAUDE LEVI-STRAUSS

Strauss's theory of narrative was based around the idea that a narrative was based aroun binary oppositions. Binary oppositions are sets of opposite values. These are used to structure the narrative. Some examples of these are GOOD and BAD, DEAD and ALIVE and EARTH and SPACE. Strauss was uninterested in the order of which events happen within a plot, but prefered to look at the deeper meanings within the plot.

The Shining has many things which could be considered binary oppositions, such as the change from community, to isolation and Jacks change from sanity to madness.

BORDWELL AND THOMPSON

Bordwell and Thompson defined narative as "a chain of events in a cause-effect relationship, occouring in time and space." Narrative shapes material in terms of time and space, defining where things take place, where they take place and how quickly they happen. Therefore narrative can use technical effects to manipulate time and space, through the use of flash backs and forwards, replays of action, slow motion, speeding up,  jumping beween places and times through use of cross cutting.

There is evident use of flashbacks and forwards within The Shining, such as Danny seeing future events and Jack seeing past events, this helps helps to create dynamics within the narrative.