Narrative Theory

Propp

Vladimir Propp was a Russian and Soviet formalist scholar.

He analyzed the plot components of Russian folk tales to identify their basic narrative elements.

He looked at one hundred folk tales and came to the conclusion that they were all made up of 31 plot elements, which he called functions.

He also found that despite the large number of characters which appeared in the folk tales, there were only 8 character types.

ABSENTATION:INTERDICTION:VIOLATION of INTERDICTION. RECONNAISSANCE:DELIVERY:TRICKERY:COMPLICITY:VILLAINY or 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:UNRECOGNIZED ARRIVAL:UNFOUNDED CLAIMS:DIFFICULT TASK:SOLUTION:RECOGNITION:EXPOSURE:TRANSFIGURATION:PUNISHMENT:WEDDING:

31 Functions:

Not every folk tale has every function in it but generally they appear in order

The Villain

The Helper

The Princess or prize

Her Father

The Donor

The Hero

The False Hero

The Dispatcher

8 Character types

Today we will concentrate on the character types

We are going to understand the different character types

We are going to examine some existing texts

You will need to make notes to help you with the work in the seminar after this lecture

The character types can often still be found in modern story telling although sometimes they are combined and sometimes it can be harder to identify them

8 Character types

1. The Hero Generally the hero leads the narrative. The story being told is the story of the

hero. They are usually looking for something - a quest, or trying to solve something- a mystery. Usually they are the person we want to succeed in the story.

Examples:

John McClane – Die Hard

Shrek – Shrek

Maverick – Top Gun

The Villain struggles against the hero. The Villain is typically shown as being morally bad. This turns the audience against him and drives them to support the hero. The Villains’ lack of morals serves to highlight the goodness of the Hero.

The Villain may seek to prevent the Hero from achieving the goal or may quest after the same artefact.

2. The Villain

Example:

Hans Gruber – Die Hard

Lord Farquaad – Shrek

Ice Man – Top Gun

The Princess may take two forms. First, he/she may be the object which is deliberately sought by the Hero, perhaps finding where the Villain has taken him/her. Secondly, she may be the reward, such that after completing some other mission, they gain his/her affections or hand in marriage.

The Princess may be seen very little in the story, perhaps appearing only at the end, or may be an important character, accompanying the Hero on their mission.

The Princess may be pursued by many, in particular by the False Hero.

3. The Princess/Prize

Example:

Holly Gennaro – Die Hard

Charlie Blackwood – Top Gun

Princess Fiona - Shrek

The Donor is a person who gives the Hero something special, such as a magical weapon or some particular wisdom, a clue or a special power. This gift enables the Hero to complete their quest.

This role may be combined with that of a Helper. The Donor may not give up their gift without setting the Hero another task, from a simple riddle to another quest.

4. The Donor

Example:

Viper – Top Gun

Dragon - Shrek

The Hero is supported in his or her quest by a Helper, who appears at critical moments to provide support.

The Helper may also be found in a support role, helping the hero throughout the story.

The limitations of he helper often help to highlight the hero's defining characteristics such as intelligence, determination, courage, etc.

5. THE HELPER

Example:

Goose – Top Gun

Sgt. Powell – Die Hard

Donkey - Shrek

The Princess’ Father gives the task to the hero.

The Princess's Father is a key figure for the Hero to persuade, as the Father is almost always protective of his daughter. The Father may also be in competition in some way with the Hero for the Princess's affections and a triangle may form.

Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished.

This may be a difficult character to define in modern story telling

6. The Princess’ Father

Example:

The King - Shrek

The False Hero appears to act heroically and may even be initially mistaken for the real Hero.

The False Hero will try to steal the Hero's thunder, grabbing the credit and perhaps trying to marry the princess instead.

The False Hero may also gain the respect or other control of the Princess's Father, thus frustrating the Hero's ability to gain the hand of the Princess.

7. The False Hero

Example:

Prince Charming – Shrek

Harry Ellis – Die Hard

An early role in the story is that of the Dispatcher who sends the Hero on the mission. This may be a family member such as a mother or father.

It can also be the Princess's Father, who gives the Hero a set of quests to be completed before he gains the hand of the Princess.

The Dispatcher may also be combined with another role, for example the False Hero who then trails along behind (perhaps disguised as a Helper).

8. The Dispatcher

Example:

Stinger – Top Gun

Lord Farquaad – Shrek

Who is the hero of Pirates of the Caribbean?

If you follow Propp’s characters, then the hero is Will Turner. He is sent to save the Princess and gain her hand in marriage.

But, the story is focussed on Captain Jack Sparrow, which could lead us to think he is the hero.

Captain Jack is not the most villainous or the most heroic character, so could be termed a rogue hero.

9. The Rogue Hero?

Propp's characters are easy to understand - but are they easy to apply to your narrative?

We live in a world of which can feature sophisticated narratives which deliberately defy the conventions of traditional folk tales.

Propp's theories rely on the idea that characters are either 'good' and 'bad’ but are all narratives about struggles between good and bad, between heroes and villains, or is that an over simplification?

Have we moved beyond fairy tale thinking into a where the terms good and bad are no longer easily defined but more relative as terms? Narratives can spring from a conflict between two characters who are not easily identified as a Hero and a Villain.

In our seminar you will look at the characters in your own narrative and try to identify which character types they represent.

You might find that some of your characters are a combination of types.

You might find you are unable to identify every character type in your narrative.

31 Functions

We will now look at the functions that Propp identified.

Think about your narrative and the stages involved in the story.

Can you identify when and how these events happen in your story?

I want you to think about each function and if it appears in your narrative.

ABSENTATION: A member of a family leaves the security of the home environment. This may be the hero or some other member of the family that the hero will later need to rescue.

INTERDICTION: The hero is warned against some action (given an 'interdiction'), don't go there', 'don't do this‘

VIOLATION of INTERDICTION: The interdiction is violated and the villain enters the tale.

RECONNAISSANCE: The villain makes an attempt at reconnaissance. The villain makes an active attempt at seeking information, for example searching for something valuable or trying to actively capture someone. They may speak with a member of the family who innocently divulges information. They may also seek to meet the hero, perhaps knowing already the hero is special in some way.

DELIVERY: The villain gains information about the victim. The villain's seeking now pays off and he or she now acquires some form of information, often about the hero or victim. Other information can be gained, for example about a map or treasure location.

TRICKERY: The villain attempts to deceive the victim to take possession of victim or victim's belongings. The villain now presses further, often using the information gained in seeking to deceive the hero or victim in some way. This may include capture of the victim, getting the hero to give the villain something or persuading them that the villain is actually a friend and thereby gaining collaboration.

COMPLICITY: Victim taken in by deception, unwittingly helping the enemy. The trickery of the villain now works and the hero or victim naively acts in a way that helps the villain. This may range from providing the villain with something to actively working against good people

VILLAINY or LACK: Villain causes harm/injury to family member. Alternatively, a member of family lacks something or desires something (magical potion etc.).

MEDIATION: Misfortune or lack is made known, (hero is dispatched, hears call for help etc./ alternative is that victimized hero is sent away, freed from imprisonment). The hero now discovers the act of villainy or lack, perhaps finding their family or community devastated or caught up in a state of anguish and woe.

BEGINNING COUNTER-ACTION: The hero now decides to act in a way that will resolve the lack, for example finding a needed magical item, rescuing those who are captured or otherwise defeating the villain. This is a defining moment for the hero as this is the decision that sets the course of future actions and by which a previously ordinary person takes on the mantle of heroism.

DEPARTURE: Hero leaves home;

FIRST FUNCTION OF THE DONOR: Hero is tested, interrogated, attacked etc., preparing the way for his/her receiving magical agent or helper (donor);

HERO'S REACTION: Hero reacts to actions of future donor (withstands/fails the test, frees captive, reconciles disputants, performs service, uses adversary's powers against him);

RECEIPT OF A MAGICAL AGENT: Hero acquires use of a magical agent (directly transferred, located, purchased, prepared, spontaneously appears, eaten/drunk, help offered by other characters);

GUIDANCE: Hero is transferred, delivered or led to whereabouts of an object of the search;

STRUGGLE: Hero and villain join in direct combat;

BRANDING: Hero is branded (wounded/marked, receives ring or scarf);

VICTORY: Villain is defeated (killed in combat, defeated in contest, killed while asleep, banished);

LIQUIDATION: Initial misfortune or lack is resolved (object of search distributed, spell broken, slain person revived, captive freed);

RETURN: Hero returns;

PURSUIT: Hero is pursued (pursuer tries to kill, eat, undermine the hero);

RESCUE: Hero is rescued from pursuit (obstacles delay pursuer, hero hides or is hidden, hero transforms unrecognisably, hero saved from attempt on his/her life);

UNRECOGNIZED ARRIVAL: Hero unrecognized, arrives home or in another country;

UNFOUNDED CLAIMS: False hero presents unfounded claims;

DIFFICULT TASK: Difficult task proposed to the hero (trial by ordeal, riddles, test of strength/endurance, other tasks);

SOLUTION: Task is resolved;

RECOGNITION: Hero is recognized (by mark, brand, or thing given to him/her);

EXPOSURE: False hero or villain is exposed;

TRANSFIGURATION: Hero is given a new appearance (is made whole, handsome, new garments etc.);

PUNISHMENT: Villain is punished;

WEDDING: Hero marries and ascends the throne (is rewarded/promoted).

and they all lived happily ever after,

The End