Narrative Questions

Reflect on the class timeline you have made and the sequence of events as they occurred in the episode. Answer the questions about the episode’s narrative below:

1.         Is the narrative structure linear (chronological) or fragmented? How?

The opening scene is has a linear narrative structure itself because it just follows the scientist before he gets taken, it never goes to a flashback at any point. However it then goes to the next day but we don't know what day the attack on the scientist happens therefore it could have flash-backed unknown to the audience. The scenes following this are all linear as well because it goes in chronological order following the children playing the game and Nancy on the phone to Barb and then Will's disappearance. It then goes to the next morning where we first see Hopper then we see Joyce and Jonathan. The linear narrative goes through all the scenes until the Castle Byers scene. This is when it breaks the linear narrative and changes to a fragmented narrative, we know this because there is a flashback to Joyce and Will in the castle talking about a situation when will wasn't missing. The story then goes back to linear narrative because we are back to the 7th November 1983 in Benny's Diner right. The linear narrative continues until the end of the scene where there is an open-ending. 

2.         How many different storylines are introduced in the first episode? What are they?

- The first storyline follows the scientist who is taken by the creature chasing him.

- Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Will are in the next storyline playing Dungeons and Dragons and then the parents. This continues when they are confronted by their bullies at school

- Nancy is in the next storyline talking to Barb on the phone. This goes on to Nancy talking with Barb and then Steve in the toilets. Nancy and Steve's love story. 

- The next storyline is Wills disappearance 

- Hopper's sad life, he realises Wills disappearance is a serious matter, his determination to find Will

- Joyce's storyline of her desperately trying to find her missing son 

- Dr Brenner as the scientist in the government building

- Benny chasing after 11 and then him taking care of her and eventually he gets killed by 'social worker'

- Teacher and his friendly relationship with Dustin, Mike and Lucas and the AV club.