Vladimir Propp

Vladimir Propp was a ussian critic and litery theorist who in his career analysed over one hundred fairy tales in the 1920's. He proposed that it was possible to classiy the charecters and their functions into clearly defined roles and functions e.g. starwars; the princess, the hero etc. However, things such as pulp fiction do not match this, the model however, is sill useful as it difines differing between stories.
charector roles

• the hero (seeking something)
• The villain (opposes the hero)
• The donor (helps the hero with a magic object)
• The dispatcher (sends the hero)
• the false hero (Falsley assuming the role of the hero)
• The helper (provides support)
• the princess (reward for the hero's success, but also needs protection from the villain)
• the farther (gives away the princess to the hero)

narrative structure

Vladimir Propp also propossed a three part narrative structure seperated into three catagories:

the begginning (equilibrium) the middle (disequalibrium) the end (new equilibrium). the equalibrium is a a state of normatlity within the storyline. the disequalibrium is something which disrupts the equalimbrium, and the hero/protagonist has to set out to correct it. the new equalibrium is when the problem is resolved and a new state of normality is created.