Lesson 04: Narrative Theories and My Text
Applying narrative theories on "Ticket Out of Loserville"
MWE
26/09/13
26/09/13
To help me better my preparations for my
main project, I have used the narrative theories that I have learned to enrich
my own text.
“Ticket out of Loserville” in reference to
Joseph Campbell’s Hero Quest
Departure
· Call to adventure – Ivy is dragged into the drama of her friend Jane
who is smitten over Jordan Sumner. She’s sceptical over the shady character but
ignores her gut feelings.
· Refusal of the call- Jordan throws a party, the whole school’s
invited and Ivy refuses to attend.
· Supernatural aid – However, she’s suddenly drawn in when Jane is
hit on. She’s concerned about her friend’s safety. Jordan suddenly pays
attention on them when she learns something about him or notices something odd
which make her think of George Carter. Sumner’s uneasiness towards studying
Lord of the Flies. George
Carter was a former classmate of Ivy; he suffered from obesity and was brutally
bullied. Ever since their class came across the character of “Piggy” it became
his nickname. Carter left school due to a fire which killed his family. He was
the only one left alive from the incident, the cause of fire remains unknown.
· Crossing the first threshold – Ivy attends the gathering and takes
this as an opportunity to observe around his household. She meets new figures
which will later help her unravel Sumner’s story
· Belly of the whale – Ivy finds a photo album but fails to look
into the text further but is sure she has found something on Jordan Sumner.
Initiation
- Road of trials – The people from their school starts disappearing particularly the ones whom attended the same school as George and Ivy. She starts to do her own research regarding George and Sumner- she starts to spy on him. She’s confronted by Jordan about what she’s doing, making her skin crawl. She defends herself and acts innocent and says “Everyone wants to know what the new boy in the block is all about”. She is given a subtle warning about looking into Sumner’s life. Ivy tells Jane but she’s accused of becoming obsessive over her “Scooby-doo mysteries” and that her friend is becoming tired of it.
- Meeting with the goddess/Woman as temptress- Ivy learns that Sumner’s adopted from his foster cousin or family. She learns that he is under therapy and is psychologically unstable.
After the house fire which killed his family, he was adopted. His new foster parents were his psychologists and had decided to adopt him for he was an orphan. They grew attached to George (or manipulated to grow fond of him). Thus, George was taken in and became one of the Sumners but the consequence is that they had to stop being his psychologist as they have broken the ethical code of work and so they had to find someone else who will take care of his psychological state of mind.
George was
exceptionally bright. At a young age he expressed interest in nature biology.
However, he starts to show symptoms of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive
disorder):
- excessive talking
- blurting out answers before hearing the full question
- difficulty waiting for a turn or in line
- problems with interrupting or intruding
- excessive talking
- blurting out answers before hearing the full question
- difficulty waiting for a turn or in line
- problems with interrupting or intruding
Furthermore, he
starts to show cruel attitude towards animals. Killing his pets or the bugs he caught
for fun.
- Belly of the whale (2) – After being given the cold shoulder by her friend, she desperately looks for her. Eventually she finds Jordan’s lair which is a like to a setting from Lord of The Flies. She finds her friend who was kept hostage but they’re both trapped as Jordan came back to have his sadistic ways over his victim. Learning about Ivy’s intervening; Jordan goes on a psychotic rage. He opens up about his history, how he was the one who caused the house fire which killed his abusive parents. Jordan became depressed due to the abuse he went through which cause him to comfort eat leading to his obesity. – He had become a sociopath. He also admits killing those whom he thought had hurt him (the missing students).
- Conclusion – Rescue comes before Jordan
furthers his tyranny. However, due to the rising tensions it only fuelled Jordan’s
psychotic breakdown. Refusing to go back to seek help, he decides to take his
own life away “To die heroically” he says.
- Final- Ivy and Jane returns back to their normal life
Todorov's Theory
Joesph Campbells “Hero Quest” had helped me
structure my narrative even further. Although I don’t think that my text is
compatible with this theory. I think that Todorov’s theory is better suited for
my narrative.
It has the Exposition which is “Call to
departure” to “Supernatural Aid” (in reference to Campbell’s Hero Quest)
Inciting incident – “Crossing the first threshold”
and “Belly of the whale”
Crisis- “Road of trials”
Climax – "Belly of the whale 2"
Falling Action – "Conclusion"
Denouement- "Final"
Binary Opposition
In my narrative I also had the chance to
explore Strauss’s “Binary Opposition”.
Ivy
|
Jordan
|
Innocent- George
(dichtomies)
|
Tyranny- Jordan
(dichtomies)
|
Rational
|
Irrational
|
Healthy relationship-
Ivy and Jane
|
Abusive relationship-
Jordan and Ivy
|
