Concepts
Narrative structure
Narrative structure is the order in which a story is told: linear, with time jumps, in parallel, as a choral fresco, or a combination of several.
The same story can be told in many ways. Linear structure moves in order; temporal ruptures jump to the past or future; parallel structure interweaves two or more lines; the fresco follows many characters at once.
Recognizing the narrative architecture explains why a film produces surprise, suspense or emotion. How the events are ordered is itself a meaning-making decision.
Don’t confuse story with plot. The story (or fabula) is the sequence of events in chronological order; the plot is the order and form in which the film chooses to tell them. The same story — a crime and its punishment — can become a detective intrigue if the plot hides the culprit, or a tragedy if it reveals them from the start. Analyzing structure means, above all, reading that gap between what happened and how it is told to us.
Example
The Godfather Part II cuts between the father’s past and the son’s present (parallel temporal ruptures).
How to spot it
Ask yourself: “is it told in order, or does it jump through time?”
Frequently asked questions
What are the types of narrative structure?
Linear, with temporal ruptures, parallel, choral fresco, and combined structures that mix several.
What is a non-linear narrative structure?
One that doesn’t follow chronological order but jumps between times to create intrigue or contrast.