Roland Barthes

Argued that a narrative is told through a series of codes that are used to control the way in which information is given to the audience. Two most important being: Enigma codes (Puzzles) and Action codes.

Enigma codes – A narrative device that teases the audience by presenting a puzzle or riddle to be solved

E.g.: Detective story in which the audience is invited to solve the puzzle of ‘whodunnit’ by interpreting the clues

Action codes – A narrative device by which a resolution is produced through action e.g.: a shoot-out, violence, often by the hero