Todorovs Theory

1) Equilibrium:

This is when the story is in balance, we will get introduced to the characters and location of the story. Everyone is usually happy at this point.

Example:

A family is all happy, they are about to go on holiday together to Barbados. They are all looking forward to it. 

At this point there is equilibrium.

2) Significant Event / Disruption:

This when an event will disrupt the equilibrium to a point in which that everything is out of balance.

Example:

The families child goes missing whilst they are at the beach. 

3) Disequilibrium:

The protagonist recognises that the equilibrium has been disrupted in some way. The protagonist will then find a way to restore equilibrium.

Example:

The father starts looking across all of the beach, but the problem is that he can't speak the same language as the locals.

The language barrier is his obstacle, in order to overcome this he shows the locals a picture of his child.

4) Climax:

This is where the protagonist has a final obstacle to overcome, leaving two resolutions. This the point where the drama is highest.

Example:

The locals have said that they have seen the child on the beach and walking back towards the families hotel. The tide is coming in and the beach will be closed off. The father decides to go back to the hotel.

5) New Equilibrium:

This is when the equilibrium has been restored, usually to an equilibrium which is better than the original equilibrium. 

Example:

The father goes back to the pool at the hotel and finds the child sitting with another family who are from the same country as them, he hugs his child and then starts to speak with the family who his child was with. They become good friends and spend the rest of the holiday together.