Narrative Theory - Vladimir Propp

Vladimir Propp was a Russian critic and literary theorist who analysed over 100 Russian folk takes in the 1920's. He proposed that it was possible to classify different characters into clearly defined roles and the functions they do.

Propp's character roles:

1. The Hero (who always aims to seek something)
2. The Villain (who opposes the hero and tries to stop him)
3. The Donor (who gives something to help the hero along his way)
4. The Dispatcher (who sends the hero on his journey to seek in the first place)
5. The False Hero (who pretends to be the hero)
6. The Helper (who provides support to the hero)
7. The Princess (the reward for the hero, normally a woman who needs protection)
8. The Princess' Father (who gives the princess as a reward)

Today, not as many films, programmes or stories fit this, an example is pulp fiction where-as star wars fits this perfectly.

Narrative Structure

To every narrative there is a 3 part structure:

1. Equalibrium (beginning) - a state of "normality" in the narrative
2. Disequalibrium (middle) - something disrupts the "normality" and the protagonist must return the "normality"
3. New Equalibrium (end) - a new "normality" is created.