Narrative Theory – a short summary

A brief introduction to the field of: 𝗡𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗢𝗥𝗬

From myths to movies, narrative theory helps us understand how stories work. It examines their structure, meaning, and impact on audiences.
At its core, narrative theory asks: Why do we tell stories? How do we structure them? And how do they connect with people both emotionally and intellectually?

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗰:

Exposition → Rising Action → Climax → Falling Action → Resolution

Whether it’s the 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲-𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘆𝘁𝗮𝗴’𝘀 𝗣𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱, or the 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼’𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 (also known as Campbell’s Monomyth), structure influences how we experience tension, transformation, and meaning.

But storytelling goes far beyond structure, narrative theory explores:

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 &. 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 – What happens vs. how it’s told.

𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 & 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄 – Who tells the story shapes how we understand it.

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 & 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 – Flashbacks, foreshadowing, and nonlinear storytelling create emotional rhythm.

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 – Heroes, mentors, shadows, tricksters—these figures, rooted in myth and psychology, reflect how we understand ourselves and others.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀 & 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 – Power, freedom, love, identity—universal themes that return across cultures and eras, transformed consciously or unconsciously by the storyteller. The “why” behind the narrative.

𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 – Good stories do more than entertain; they immerse, challenge, and resonate.

Read more articles about Narrative Theory on Epic Edge: https://epicedgelab.com/tag/narrative-theory/