Propps Narrative

Structure
Lesson Objective
What is Propps Narrative theory?

Starter
Name all the narrative
structures
Name all the camera
angles

Open

Circular

Abstract

Enigma

POV

Closed

Interactive

Multistrand

The Narrative Ideas of

Vladimir Propp (1895 Propp claimed that no
1970).
matter how different
stories may appear,
they usually have
similar characters
who do similar things.

Spheres of Action:
Valadimir Propp therefore
claimed that characters in a
story could usually be fitted
into eight character roles
which he called spheres of
action.
A character in a story may
fulfil more than one role or
sphere of action.

(1) The Hero.

In a story, this was often
a main or central
character (protagonist).
He usually seeks out
something, or someone,
in the story. He is maybe
motivated by a lack of
something (e.g. money).

(2) The Villain.

He/she opposes the
hero! This is the evil
character with evil
plans.

(3) The Princess.

The Princess is often a reward for the
hero! She may be the object of the Villains
evil scheming.
Traditionally she is attractive or pretty not
least to the hero!

(4) Father of the

Princess.
Rewards the hero!
He is part of the
family that the
Princess belongs too.

(5) The False Hero!

This is a character who may at first appear
good but is really evil!
He/she may try to betray the good guys.

(6) The Helper.

He/she aids the hero!

(7) The Donor.

This is character who
provides an object that
helps the Hero (or another
character).
Often the object has
magic qualities.

(8) The Dispatcher.

Sends the Hero on his
way, with a mission.

The Villain
This is the character who struggles against the
hero. Typically,
with some sort of
scarring. The villain will usually wear dark
and mysterious colours, and not very
attractive. This is to juxtapose between the hero
and the villain; to highlight their differences.
The villain in the picture is of The Joker who
provides an evil presence in the movie: The Dark
Knight

The Dispatcher
The character who invites the hero to eliminate
the
evil.
The dispatcher in the picture is of the character
Nick Fury in Avengers
Assemble. He collects the hero(s) in order to
send them off to fight the evil presence.

The Helper
The character who helps the hero fight against
evil.
The Helper in the picture is Robin in Batman
and
Robin, he helps the
hero by providing a physical presence in order to
destroy the villain.

The Princess
The character who needs to be rescued from the
evil
villain.
The Princess in the picture is of Gwen Stacey in
The Amazing Spiderman. She is taken by the
villain and must be rescued by the hero.

The Donor
The character who offers some sort of help to the
hero by
providing an object(s) that
will help the hero in his/her quest.
The donor in the picture is of the character
Lucius Fox in Batman Begins. He helps the
hero (Batman) by providing him with weapons and
armoury.

The Hero
The most common character type
The character who eliminates the villain and weds
the
princess.
The example I have used is of Spiderman in
which he
eventually defeats the
evil and weds the princess
(Mary-Jane Watson)

Watch the trailer of

Shrek
Can you apply the theory in
Shrek?
Cut out the characters
Stick them next to the
description
Explain how the theory applies
to Propps theory?

Characters