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.