Applying the 31 functions to a fairytale

31 functions within Cinderella:

Cinderella was raised by her kind and devoted father but after her mothers death her father marries again, with a women who has daughters who were Cinderella's age. However upon the untimely death of Cinderella's father (FIRST FUNCTION) the step-mother's greedy nature becomes apparent. Shoe forces Cinderella to become a servant in her own home (EIGHTH FUNCTION). Cinderella remain her true self and believes that her dreams of happiness would one say come true.
The story actually begins with Cinderella waking up to a new day, with the help from her friends, mice and birds, as she gets ready to begin her chores for the day. Whilst doing these chores, she recieves an invitation. Bringing it to her step-mother it is revealed that the Royal Ball is being planned for the evening and by the Kings order, every liable maid in the Kingdom is to attend as the King is on a quest to find a suitable wife for his son. Cinderella desperatly want tto attend the ball and meet the prince. Propp establishes that desire as function eight.
Cinderella's step-mother says she can go to the ball bearing in mind she finishes her chores and has a suitable dress to wear. However the step-mother and sisters do everything in thier power to prevent this. Cinderella's animal friends recognise what the step-mother is up to and know that Cinderella will not be able to attend the ball. This is where the misfortune or lack is made known.
To show their love for Cinderella, the animals decide to make the dress themselves. With a beautiful gown waiting for her, she runs downstairs to attend the ball. As soon as the step-sisters see Cinderella they become incredibly jealous of her beauty. They both attack her and ruin her dress while the step-mother simply watches. With the damage done, they leave for the ball leaving Cinderella behind. This prepares the way for Cinderella to recieve a magical agent representing Propp's 12 funtion.
Cinderella runs into the garden crying and collapses on the bench sobbing, when a sparkle of light shows and a person appears on the bench with Cinderella's head in her lap. The women tries to comfort her but Conderella insists that there is nothing left to believe in. Cinderella realises that this is her fairy God-mother and thereby "reacts to the actions of the future donar" (12), when the fairy God-mother starts casting spells, a pumpkin into a coach, the mice into horses and puts Cinderella into a ball gown. The Fairy God-Mother warns cinderella that the spell with break at the stroke of midnight. This warning represents the second function.
Cinderella goes to the ball and meets the prince. They fall in love instantly, unaware of eachothers identities. The night flies away and cinderella is unaware of the time. By ignoring the warning and losing track of the time Ciinderella furfills the 3rd function. Suddenly the clock strikes midnight. Cinderella realises the spell is about to end and runs away. In a hurry shes loses her glass slipper. The slipper is proof of the evening and therfore acts as a brand given to the hero, representing the 17th function. The next day there is news of a Royal proclamation. An order has been given that every maid must try on the slipper and the Prince will marry the girl whose foot fits.
In order to prevent Cinderella's discovery, her step-mother locks her in her room (25th FUNTION). Cinderella's friends refuse to see Cinderella denied the oppurtunity to try on the slipper. They work together to free Cinderella "The task is resolved" and the 26th function has taken place. Just as the Royal Visitors are about to leave Cinderella runs downstairs and tries on the slipper with the step-mother still attempting to ruin this oppurtunity. However Cinderella shows then the matching slipper. She is recognised as the Princes love, furfilling the 27th function.
Cinderella is taken to the palace to marry the Prince and then the 29th function takes place when she is given a new appearence and also the 31st function when the Prince and Cinderella marry and assend the throne. Sixteen funtions are apparent in Cinderella, two of which appear in thier proper order.

Propp's Theory

Vladimir Propp (1895-1970, after examining hundreds of fairytales, argued that all fairytales were constucted of certain plot elements. He identified thirty-one genetic functions showing that they all followed the same basic structure. Some fairytales would change the sequence and may not include every step but there is always evidence of them present, also identifies 8 main character roles or 'Spheres of action'.

Propp's 8 character roles:
- The villian
- The Hero: A seeker character motivated by an initial lack.
- The Doner: Who provides an object with some magic property.
- The Helper: Who aids the hero.
- The Princess: A reward for the hero and object of the villian schemes.
- Her Father: Who validates the hero.
- The Dispatcher: Who sends the hero on his way.
- The False Hero.

Propp's 31 functions:
1. Absentation: One of the members of a family absents himself from home.
2. Interdiction: An interdiction is addressed to the hero. 

3. Violation: The interdiction is violated. 

4. Reconnaissance: The villain makes an attempt at reconnaissance. 

5. Delivery: The villain receives information about his victim. 

6. Trickery: The villain attempts to deceive his victim. 

7. Complicity: The victim submits to deception. 

8. Villainy: The villain causes harm to a member of a family, alt. 8a: Lack. One member 

of a family lacks something. 

9. Mediation: Misfortune or lack is made known. 
10. Beginning counteraction: The seeker agrees to counteraction. 

11. Departure: The hero leaves home. 

12. First function of donor: The hero is tested which prepares the way 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 a magical agent. 

15. Spatial transference, guidance: The hero is transferred 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. 

18. Victory: The villain is defeated. 

19. Restoration/ Lack liquidated: The initial misfortune or lack is liquidated. 

20. Return: The hero returns. 

21. Pursuit, chase: The hero is pursued. 

22. Rescue: Rescue of the hero from pursuit. 

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. Recognition: 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 and ascends the throne. 

Prop's theory is a form of Stuctualism which is a view that all media is inevitably in a form of certain fixed stucture.

•  This structures are often culturally derived and form expectations in the mind of an audience from within the same culture eg. fairytales always have happy endings or the princess always marries the handsome prince.

Propp's theory can be applied to generic structures in Westurn cultures such as popular film genres.

•  This genre structures from expectations in the mid of an audience that certain rules apply to the narrative. However, cultural change can force structure to change eg. hero can now be a women.

Mood Board

This is a mood board which shows different examples of images which give a romantic feel to them. They show all images which are take from rom coms and other 'chick flick' films.