Theories of Narrative: Vladimir Propp

Vladimir Propp examined hundreds of fairy tales in the generic form of 'The Folk Wondertale.' He found that in most 'fairy tales' there was:
- 8 character roles
- 31 functions which move the story along.
Propps theory is a form of structuralism, which is a view that all media is inevitable in the form of certain fixed structures - fairy tales always have a happy ending.
Propps theory can be applied to generic structures in Western culture, such as popular film genres. However, culture change can force structures to change. For example a hero can now be a woman.
The 8 characters that make up a generic film/video are:
- Hero
- Villain
- Donor
- Helper
- Princess
- Father
- Dispatcher
- False hero.
The 31 functions that move the story along are:
- Absentation
- Interdiction
- Violation of Interdiction
- Reconnaissance
- Delivery
- Trickery
- Complicity
- Villainy and Lack
- Mediation
- Beginning Counter Action
- Departure
- First Function of the Donor
- Hero's Reaction
- Receipt of a Magical Agent
- Guidance
- Struggle
- Branding
- Victory
- Liquidation
- Return
- Pursuit
- Rescue
- Unrecognised Arrival
- Unfounded Claims
- Difficult Task
- Solution
- Recognition
- Exposure
- Transfiguration
- Punishment
- Wedding