Sunset Boulevard

Explain the narrative structure of Sunset Boulevard. Differentiate story and plot.

The narrative structure is about the content of a story and the form used to tell the story. Story refers to how the dramatic action unfolds, conceivably in chronological order. Plot refers to how the story is told — the form or structure that the story follows. If we want to analyze narrative structure, we can use “who,” “what,” and “where” questions to look at the story or content of a movie; and “how” and “when” questions to examine plot structure.

Using this definition explain the narrative structure of Sunset Boulevard. Differentiate story and plot.

Asked by
Last updated by jill d #170087
Answers 1
Add Yours

The narrative is told in flashback by the narrator, Joe Gillis, as he opens the film by telling the audience that the homicide squad is coming to the scene of a crime. He also tells us that the crime will be a major focus of the media, as a former movie star is involved. Gillis then tells us that we need to have the facts, "the whole truth," before the media has a chance to distort it. The victim, a young man, has been found floating facedown in a swimming pool..... shot three times. In flashback, the action and plot unfold as we are taken back six months to get the whole story.

Source(s)

Sunset Boulevard