MORPHOLOGY OF THE FOLKTALE

VLADIMIR PROPP

By Ema Ramot

MORPHOLOGY

• is a description of the tale according to its component parts and the relationship of these components to each other and to the whole

LINEAR SEQUENTIAL STRUCTURE

• Follows the cronological order of the linear sequence of elements in the text as reported from an informant.

FUNCTIONS OF DRAMATIS PERSONAE

• Limited – 31 functions

• A large number arranged in pairs (prohibition – violation)

• In groups (villainy – dispatch – decision for counteraction – departure)

• Individual (absentation, punishment, marriage)

1. ABSENTATION

• One of the members of a family absents himself from home

(goes on a distant journey, visiting, fishing, for a walk)

2. INTERDICTION

• A prohibition is addressed to the hero

(you dare not look into the closet)

3. VIOLATION OF INTERDICTION

• The prohibition is violated

• a new personage enters the tale – the villain (a dragon, a witch)

4. RECONNAISSANCE

• It has the aim of finding out the location of children, precious objects.....

5. DELIVERY

• The villain receives information about his victim (directly receives an answer, a dialogue between the stepmother and the mirror)

TRICKERY

• The villain attempts to deceive the victim in order to take possession of him or his belongings (the villain assumes a disguise, uses persuasion, applies magical means.....)

7. COMPLICITY

• The victim submits to deception and unwittingly helps his enemy

(interdictions are always broken and deceitful proposals are always accepted and fulfilled)

8. VILLAINY

• Complication is begun

• The villain causes harm or injury to a member of a family (abducts a person, takes away a magical agent, spoils the crops, causes bodily harm, causes a sudden disappearance, casts a spell.....)

8.a LACK

• One member of a family either lacks something or desires to have something (wondrous objects, bride.....)

9. MEDIATION, THE CONNECTIVE INCIDENT

• Misfortune or lack is made known, the hero is approached with a request, he is allowed to go or is dispatched

10. BEGINNING COUNTERACTION

• The seeker agrees to or decides upon counteraction

11. DEPARTURE

• The hero leaves home

• A new character enters the tale – THE DONOR or THE PROVIDER (usually encountered accidentally)

• The seeker hero or the victim hero obtains some agent (usually magical) which permits the eventual liquidation of misfortune.

12. THE FIRST FUNCTION OF THE DONOR

• The hero is tested, which prepares for his receiving a magical agent or a helper

13. THE HERO`S REACTION

• The hero reacts to the actions of the future donor

14. PROVISION OR RECEIPT OF A MAGICAL AGENT

• The hero acquires the use of magical agent

15. SPATIAL TRANSFERENCE BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS, GUIDANCE

• The hero is transferred, delivered or led to the whereabouts of an object of search

16. STRUGGLE

• The hero and the villain join in direct combat

17. BRANDING, MARKING

• The hero is branded (receives a wound, a princess brands the hero on the forehead with a signet ring.....)

18. VICTORY

• The villain is defeated

19. LIQUIDATION

• The initial misfortune or lack is liquidated

• The narrative receives its peak

20. RETURN

• The hero returns

21. PURSUIT, CHASE

• The hero is pursued

22. RESCUE

• The hero is rescued

• Many tales end on the note of rescue from pursuit or there is another misfortune etc.

23. UNRECOGNIZED ARRIVAL

• The hero, unrecognized, arrives home or in another country

24. UNFOUNDED CLAIMS

• A false hero presents unfounded claims.

25. DIFFICULT TASK

• A difficult task is proposed to the hero.

26. SOLUTION

• The task is resolved

27. ROCOGNITION

• The hero is recognized.

28. EXPOSURE

• The false hero or villain is exposed.

29. TRANSFIGURATION

• The hero is given a new appearance.

30. PUNISHMENT

• The villain is punished.

31. WEDDING

• The hero is married/ascends the throne.