1. VLADIMIR PROPP (1895-1970)
Propp was a Bulgarian theorist. In his 1922 work The Morphology of the Folk Tale he
analysed something like 400 Russian folk tales. He found that across all of these
tales, despite apparent differences, characters and their actions can be categorized
into clearly defined roles and functions (8 character roles and 31 narrative functions)
which are summarized here:
The hero: seeks something, to fulfill a ‘lack’ of some kind
The villain: opposed the hero, tries to make the hero fail
The donor: aids the hero by providing an object with magical properties
The dispatcher: sends the hero on a quest of some kind
The false hero: pretends to be the hero
The helper: assists the hero in some way
The princess: doubles up as a reward for the hero and the object of the
villain’s plot
Her father: will reward the hero (often by giving the hero his daughter)
DARK KNIGHT RISES
(which character fulfils this role and why?)
Hero Batman- He's the Gaurdian of Gotham City and protects it.
Villain Bane tries to destroy Gotham with a Power Core (bassicaly a
nuke)
Donor Lucius Fox, provides batman with all of his Gadgets and Vehicles
Dispatcher John Blake, goes to see Bruce Wayne and convinces him to be
Batman once again.
Commisioner Gordon gets visited by batman and tells him that
Batman is once again needed in gotham
False hero Mirana Tate, She's basically the master mind of it all but we don't
know this and find out all about it when she shanks batman
Helper Alfred Batman's butler provides support emotionally and has
been part of the family for years
CatWoman, helps batman find bane and defeat him too.
John Blake also helps defeat Bane and is key in helping the
Police escape the sewers
Princess Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne fall in love at the end of the film
and are seen greeting alfred.
Father Ra's Al Ghul is Miranada Tate's father and she was the real child
who escaped from the pit he came back to the pit to kill all the
prisoners but kept bane alive due to him helping miranada
escape.
It is difficult to

2. PROPP NARRATIVE FUNCTION
These functions should not be seen just as events, actions or characters in themselves, but as
elements in a narrative which can occur at different places. The same action can have a different
meaning depending on where it occurs.
P
R
E
P
A
R
A
TI
O
N
A community (a
kingdom, family, etc.) in
a state of order
Gotham is Safe.
A member of the family
leaves home
Alfred quits his job
A prohibition/rule is
imposed on the hero
Batman is wanted.
A prohibition / rule is
ignores or broken
Batman tries to find Bane and the police find out he's
back.
The villain makes an
attempt at
reconnaissance; tries to
find something out
about the hero
Selina Kyle tries to steal Bruces finger prints.
The villain learns
something about his
victim
Bane finds a letter from Gordon about who the real
Harvey Dent is.
The villain tries to
deceive the victim to
gain an advantage
Miranda flirts with Bruce in order to get close to him
The victim is deceived
and unknowingly helps
the villain
Batman gives the bomb to Miranada
C
O
M
P
LI
C
A
TI
O
N
The state of order is
disrupted
Selina Kyle steals from Bruce and Bane overthorws the
plane
The villain harms a
member of the family
Bane's henchmen shoots Gordon
A member of the family
lacks or desires
something
Alfred wants Bruce to leave this one to the Police
This lack is made
known to the hero who
is sent on a quest
Alfred tries to use Rachel against Bruce.
The hero plans action
against the villain
Batman Fights Bane
TR
AN
SF
ER
EN
CE
The hero leaves home Bane chucks him into the pit.
The hero is tested,
attacked, interrogated:
the hero receives help
Bane beats batman up and breaks his back

3. The hero reacts to the
donor
Batman uses Fox's gadgets and his aircraft.
The hero is transferred
to the location where
he will fulfill his quest /
task
Batman comes back to Gotham City
ST
R
U
G
GL
E
There is a struggle
between the hero and
the villain
Batman and Bane have their show off in the middle of the
war between the criminals and the police
The hero is branded Bruces Back gets snapped into two
The villain is defeated Cat women shoots Bane with Bruce's bike
The initial state of order
is restored / the lack
fulfilled
Banes plans have failed and gotham city is once again
safe.
R
E
T
U
R
N
The hero returns Batman returns from the Pit into Gotham itself.
The hero is pursed The Police try to hunt him down.
The hero escapes / is
rescued
Bruce Wayne finally makes it out a live from the pit.
The hero arrives home
or some other place: he
is not recognized
When batman comes back from his 8 year break he finds
himself not as strong as he used to be.
A false hero makes a
false claim
Miranda says he's going to make safe energy from the
Reactor.
The hero is given a
difficult task
Bruce mus climb from the pit.
The task is
accomplished
Batman saves Gotham city.
R
E
C
O
G
NI
TI
O
N
The hero is recognized They make a Batman statue
The false hero / villain
is exposed
People realise it was actually miranada Tate
The false hero / villain
transforms
We find out Miranda tate is fulfilling Ra's Al Ghul's destiny
The false hero / villain
is punished
Batman crashes miranda's car.

4. The hero is rewarded
(marries the princess
and is granted
wealth/power)
Batman and Catwoman leave Gotham City