Tzvetan Todorov devised a way of analysing narratives by the different stages in which they move, he divided it up into 5 stages:
1)
The Equilibrium; Here the setting of the film is established
2) The Disruption; This is where the story takes a particular direction.
3) The regcognition of disruption; Here the problem is ecnoledged and the characters and event are interwoven.
4) The attempt to repair the disruption; This is where the characters try to solve the issue presented as the disruption.
5) Reinstating the equilibrium; Finally this is where the matters of the problem are solved and any questions are answered. Therefore bring it back to the equilibrium
In the short film 'Partly Cloudy' these five stages of the narrative are presented;
The equilibrium tells us that it is set in a sky where the clouds are able to make animals and babies for stalks to deliver to peoples front doors. These clouds are all very cheerful and friendly. We then see the disruption, one cloud is lower and darker than the rest in the sky, this cloud can't seem to make any of the animals that the other clouds can. When the camera changes to this cloud the lighting is low key and the music changed from up beat to a much deeper sound.
The recognition of disruption comes when a stalk still comes to deliver what this cloud makes, however we see the stalk often look up towards the other clouds wishing he could deliver the much friendlier animals. The attempt to repair the disruption comes from the stalk who despite the various injuries he encounters from the animals, still delivers them to keep the cloud happy.
Finally the reinstating of the equilibrium happens when the stalk goes up to see one of the other clouds to ask for some protective clothing to stop his injuries so he can still deliver the animals to people.
Claude Levi-Strauss came up with the 'Binary oppositions'. He believed that the way we understand words is not decided by the word itself but by our understanding of its opposite or as Strauss called the 'Binary opposites', Binary opposites are often used within the horror genre, for example the roles of sane and insane. For this reason Strauss argues that there has to be conflict within a film.
Vladimit Propp founded the idea that a certain type of character should be used within every narrative;
Hero; the main character in which the narrative is centered around, they often has a mission or quest to complete.
Heroine/Princess; the reward for the hero completing their mission
Princesses father; the hero must win his approval
Villain; seeks to stop the hero on his mission.
Donor/ mentor; gives the hero important information
Helper; ofter accompanies the hero on his mission, doesn't always successfully complete the mission