Vladimir Propp

Vladimir Propp

Vladimir Yakovlevich Propp was born 29 April [O.S. 17 April] 1895 – 22 August 1970) was a Soviet formalist scholar who analyzed the basic plot components of Russian folk tales to identify their simplest irreducible narrative elements.

A member of a family leaves home (the hero is introduced);

An interdiction is addressed to the hero ('don't go there', 'go to this place');

The interdiction is violated (villain enters the tale);

The villain makes an attempt at reconnaissance (either villain tries to find the children/jewels etc; or intended victim questions the villain);

The villain gains information about the victim;

The villain attempts to deceive the victim to take possession of victim or victim's belongings (trickery; villain disguised, tries to win confidence of victim);

Victim taken in by deception, unwittingly helping the enemy;

Villain causes harm/injury to family member (by abduction, theft of magical agent, spoiling crops, plunders in other forms, causes a disappearance, expels someone, casts spell on someone, substitutes child etc, comits murder, imprisons/detains someone, threatens forced marriage, provides nightly torments); Alternatively, a member of family lacks something or desires something (magical potion etc);

Misfortune or lack is made known, (hero is dispatched, hears call for help etc/ alternative is that victimised hero is sent away, freed from imprisonment);

Seeker agrees to, or decides upon counter-action;

Hero leaves home;

Hero is tested, interrogated, attacked etc, preparing the way for his/her receiving magical agent or helper (donor);

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

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

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

Hero and villain join in direct combat;

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

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

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

Hero returns;

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

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

Hero unrecognised, arrives home or in another country;

False hero presents unfounded claims;

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

Task is resolved;

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

False hero or villain is exposed;

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

Villain is punished;

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