Tzvetan Todorov is a Bulgarian Structuralist from the 1960's. he developed the theory of disrupted equilibrium.
He identified that stories follow a typical pattern of...
Equilibrium - the 'status quo' where things are as they should be
Disequilibrium - the 'status quo' is disrupted by an event
Equilibrium - the 'status quo' is restored at the end of the story by an actions of the hero
There are several moments in the plot where resolution of equilibrium takes place, for example when pieces of the detectives puzzle falls into place.
Todorov later developed this into a 5 stage pattern...
1. a state of equilibrium at the outset
2. a disruption of equilibrium by some action
3. a recognition that there has been a disruption
4. an attempt to repair the disruption
5. a reinstatement of the equilibrium
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