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Katrina. L. Thomson

Narrative Theory:Propp and Character Types

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Vladimir Propp

Propp was a Russian scholar who analysed the basic plot componentsof Russian folk tales to identify their narrative elements.

His character types are used in media education and can be applied toalmost any story, be it in literature, theatre, film, television and games

He concluded that all characters could be resolved into 8 broad

character types in the 100 tales he analysed.

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8 Character Types

The Hero The Villain The Donor

The Princess The Helper The Princess Father

The False Hero The Dispatcher

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The Hero (Protagonist)

Leads the narrative; usuallylooking for something, on aquest or solving a mystery.

Name: Harry PotterFilm: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 1

(Yates, 2010)

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The Villain (Antagonist)

Struggles against the Heroand tries to stop them fromsucceeding.

Name: Freddy KrugerFilm: A Nightmare On Elm Street (Craven, 1984)

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The Donor

Give the Hero something - guidesand prepares the Hero.

Name: Balthazar BlakeFilm: The Sorcerers Apprentice

(Turteltaub, 2010)

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The Princess

Is usually a prize or reward forthe Hero. If the Hero is female,there can be a price but is

unusual. Within modern films, isnormally the love interest.

Name: GiselleFilm: Enchanted (Lima, 2007)

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The Helper

Helps the Hero in his/her quest,often acts as a sidekick.

Name: Dr John Watson

Film: Sherlock Holmes (Ritchie, 2009)

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The Princess Father

An authority figure who offers areward the Hero for completingtheir quest or defeating the Villain.

The reward is not always a person,can be an object.

Name: Professor Henry JonesFilm: Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade (Spielberg, 1989)

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The False Hero

Takes credit for the Herosactions of tries to marry thePrincess.

Name: Gilderoy LockhartFilm: Harry Potter & The Chamber Of Secrets

(Columbus, 2002)

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The Dispatcher

The person who sends the Herooff on his/her quest.

Name: IoFilm: Clash Of The Titians (Leterrier, 2010)

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28 Days Later (Boyle, 2002)

The Hero: Jim/ Selene

The Villain: Infected/ Soldiers

The Donor: Frank/ Soldiers

The Princess: Selene

The Helper: Hannah/ Mark

The Princess Father: Frank/ Major Henry West

The False Hero: Major Henry West/ Soldiers

The Dispatcher: Frank

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The Descent (Marshall, 2005)

The Hero: Sarah

The Villain: Crawlers/ Juno

The Donor: Beth

The Princess: -

The Helper: Beth, Sam, Becca, Holly

The Princess Father: -

The False Hero: Juno

The Dispatcher: Juno/ Beth

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Eden Lake (Watkins, 2008)

The Hero: Jenny

The Villain: Brett/ Paige/ Cooper/ Ricky/ Mark

The Donor: Steve

The Princess: Jenny

The Helper: Steve/ Cooper

The Princess Father: -

The False Hero: Locals

The Dispatcher: Steve

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Jenny: Eden Lake (Watkins, 2008)

Jenny is no the typical heroine you would expect to

find in a horror film.

She is very feminine, and stereotypically she would

be judged on her looks and play a girly role. A role

that she fits at the start of the film, but breaks out

of when her and Steves lives are in danger and

she needs to find help to save him from Brett and

his gang.

The costume choices still expose her as an

attractive female (with the short floral, low cut

dress) however, scenes that show her covered in

mud and blood (hiding in a bin of poo) show the

audience the tougher side to her character.