Christmas Homework

Explore the narrative structure of your three main texts (30) 

 

This answer will explore the different narrative structures used in the films Creed (2015), Skyfall (2012) and Trainspotting (1996). A narrative structure is the way a story is told and how it unfolds in a film.  

 

The film Creed follows a simple 3 part narrative structure (start, middle, end), at the beginning of the film we see the main character Adonis as a child in a children's prison. Then in the middle of the film it shows the struggles Adonis faces he has when he starts boxing such as people wanting him to change his name to Creed to follow in his fathers footsteps. Tzvtan Todorovs theory is applied in the film with the equilibrium being when Adonis is training to become a boxer and tracks down Rocky Balboa to become his trainer, this is then followed by the disruption when Rocky finds out he is ill with cancer. The recognition of disruption is when Adonis is told by Rocky that he is ill, so Adonis asks him to move in with him and his girlfriend . The attempt to repair disruption is when Adonis tries to persuade Rocky to get treatment for his cancer but he refuses and focuses on training Adonis for his fight against Pretty Ricky Conlon. The restoration of equilibrium is when Adonis fights Ricky Conlon and is then shown respect by the boxer. Also it shows the struggles he goes through when his trainer Rocky becomes ill however, Creed secures his biggest fight during his struggles. The film has  a bittersweet ending as Creed loses his fight again Ricky Collon however, he puts up a good fight and nearly wins. The whole film is linear as it follows the structure of start, middle and end, this structure is typical of films of the drama genre apart from films that have been directed by Quentin Tarantino as he tends to mix up the narrative. In this film there is the use of binary opposites with the good being Adonis as he is the one who is training to better himself whereas, the evil in this film is Pretty Ricky Conlon who is bad mouthing other fighters and being disrespectful towards Adonis.  

 

Similarly to Creed the film Trainspotting also follows the 3 part narrative structure, although this film shows stories from various characters they all come together and doesn't mix up the narrative structure. At the start of the film we're introduced to Mark Renton who gives his life speech while he is being chased with Spud and Sickboy, then in the middle of the film Renton overdoses and at the end of the film Renton gets clean and leaves Edinburgh. There is one part of the film which isn't linear as a scene in the middle overlaps with the chase scene at the beginning.  Todorovs 5 part narrative is also applied with the recognition of disruption of the equilibrium being when Renton is caught shoplifting with Spud and is sent to court, the attempt to restore equilibrium is  when Renton avoids jail and is put on to a drug rehabilitation programme. Renton then relapses and overdoses which messes up the theory of Todorov being applied to this film.   

 

In Skyfall follows Robert McKee's 5 part narrative structure, the inciting incident in this film is when Bond walks into the apartment to try and find the hard drive however, he finds out that it has been stolen and an agent has been killed. The progressive complications is when Bond is searching for Patrice and once he finds him he is then shot by Moneypenny and falls to his death before he has the chance to get the name of Patrice's employer. The crisis is when things become worse as Silva escapes from MI6 and proceeds to attack M at her public enquiry however, Bond and M getaway. The climax is when the forces of Bond and Silva come head to head at Bonds childhood home ‘Skyfall’, Bond kills Silva while M dies in Bonds arms. Finally the resolution come after M’s funeral when Eve Moneypenny is introduced Mallory’s (the new M) secretary.