( RESEARCH)Task 6 : Who was Vladimir Propp ?

Vladimir Yakovlevich Propp was a Russian and soviet formalist scholar who analysed the basic plot components of russian folk tales to identify their simplest narrative elements. He established that the tales take 31 functions , here are some examples : 

ABSENTATION: A member of a family leaves the security of the home environment. This may be the hero or some other member of the family that the hero will later need to rescue. This division of the cohesive family injects initial tension into the storyline. The hero may also be introduced here, often being shown as an ordinary person.
1. INTERDICTION: An interdiction is addressed to the hero ('don't go there', 'don't do this'). The hero is warned against some action (given an 'interdiction').
2. VIOLATION of INTERDICTION. The interdiction is violated (villain enters the tale). This generally proves to be a bad move and the villain enters the story, although not necessarily confronting the hero. Perhaps they are just a lurking presence or perhaps they attack the family whilst the hero is away.
3. RECONNAISSANCE: The villain makes an attempt at reconnaissance (either villain tries to find the children/jewels etc.; or intended victim questions the villain). The villain (often in disguise) makes an active attempt at seeking information, for example searching for something valuable or trying to actively capture someone. They may speak with a member of the family who innocently divulges information. They may also seek to meet the hero, perhaps knowing already the hero is special in some way.
4. DELIVERY: The villain gains information about the victim. The villain's seeking now pays off and he or she now acquires some form of information, often about the hero or victim. Other information can be gained, for example about a map or treasure location.

He also concluded that all the characters could be resolved into 8 broad character types in the 100 tales he analysed

1. The villain (struggles against the hero)
2. The donor (prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object)
3. The (magical) helper (helps the hero in the quest)
4. The princess (person the hero marries, often sought for during the narrative)
5. Her father
6. The dispatcher (character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off)
7. The hero or victim/seeker hero, reacts to the donor, weds the princess

I was able to find to find a short clip of a film that demonstrates his theory.

This clip is from the fairytale Sleeping Beauty and as you can see you can already tell who the main character types , there is a princess , villian - the witch , the magical helpers- the fairies, her father - the king , and so on . If you watch the full movie you will find out that she is rescued by a prince so his theory does apply to this film.