5 stages of narrative:
Equilibrium- setting Is established.
Disruption- story takes a particular direction.
Recognition of disruption- characters and events are interwoven.
Attempt to repair disruption- try to solve the issue.
Reinstatement of equilibrium- matters are sorted out, problems solved and questions answered.
Vladimir Propp:
Propp suggested that in any story there are only ever a limited number of character types. Each of whom have their own purpose in the narrative.
Hero- main characters around which the narrative is centred- mission or quest?
Heroine or princess- acts as a reward for the hero succeeding in the mission/ quest.
Princesses father- hero must win approval from father to win the princess.
Villain- stops the hero from succeeding mission/ quest.
Helper- accompanies the hero, doesn't always complete the quest.
The Equilibrium in Matilda is in a friendly neighbourhood in the Wormwoods home. The local library, the school and Miss Honey's house also play a large part in the film.
The disruption is when Matilda asks her father if she can go to school, he finds a school with a really strict head teacher and she begins to get punished for being smart and for not being similar to the rest of her family. Soon the police get involved and threaten that she should be put in an orphanage, however she gathers powers and begins to play around with her family's minds.
The recognition of disruption takes place when Matilda is born, she is born into a family who don't appreciate her or her many talents. When she starts school there is only one teacher who realises she has a lot of potential, Miss Honey. The scene when Matilda is in Miss Trunchable's house creates a lot of tension. E.g, will they get out safely? Does she find them?
Later on in the film, Matilda's parents decide they are moving abroad and give Matilda no notice, however as they come to pick her up she is at Miss Honey's house and asks if she will adopt her. This is the attempt to repair disruption.
Soon after Miss Honey has adopted Matilda and her parents have moved away, everything starts looking up for Matilda. Miss Trunchable quit the school, Matilda and Miss Honey now have a beautiful house and they go out for picnics in the park etc. This is the reinstatement of equilibrium.