1. NARRATIVE
THEORY
PROPP & TODOROV

2. NARRATIVE
STRUCTURE
Propp
1) Preparation
2) Complication
3) Transference
4) Struggle
5) Return
6) Recognition
Todorov
1) Equilibrium
2) Disruption
3) Recognition of
disruption
4) Attempt to repair
disruption
5) A return or
restoration of NEW
equilibrium

3. Propp’s theory says...
PREPARATION
a community or family is in an ordered state of being
COMPLICATION
the villain harms a member of the hero’s family
the hero plans action against the villain
TRANSFERENCE
the hero is given a magical gift
the hero arrives at the place he can fulfil his quest
STRUGGLE
there is a struggle between the hero and the villain
RETURN
the hero escapes
a task is set for the hero
the hero accomplishes the task
RECOGNITION
the hero is rewarded

5. PROPP’S SEVEN
CHARACTER TYPES
Hero
Villain
Helper
Mentor
Dispatcher
Blocker
Prize

6. Hero
Accompanies the hero for some or most
of the quest and can sometimes help.
Villain
Sends the hero on his/her quest.
Helper
Gives the hero important information or
equipment to help him/her in the quest
Mentor
Seeks riches, glory and or power, and
seeks to stop the hero succeeding in the
quest or mission.
Blocker
Acts as a reward for the hero
succeeding in the quest.
Prize
The central protagonist of the narrative
who drives it forward.
Dispatcher
Tries to prevent the hero completing at
least part of the quest.

7. THE HERO
The central protagonist of the
narrative who drives it forward
and has some kind of quest or
mission to undertake in return
for a reward. Traditionally
male, e.g. Fireman Sam, but
can be female, e.g. Mulan.

8. THE VILLAIN
Seeks riches, glory and or
power, and seeks to stop the
hero succeeding in the quest or
mission, while presenting a
genuine threat. The sometimes
want the heroine themselves.
Can be male or female.

9. THE HELPER
Accompanies the hero for
some or most of the quest and
can sometimes help, but
cannot by themselves
complete the quest. E.g.
Samwise Gamgee.

10. THE MENTOR
Gives the hero important
information or equipment to help
him/her in the quest. They are
often represented as wise or
having magical powers, but can’t
do the quest without the hero,
e.g. Obi-won Kenobi.

11. THE PRIZE
(HEROINE)
Acts as a reward for the hero
suceeding in the quest. In
older, more stereotypical
narratives the heroine is a
passive princess and female.
In modern narratives the
heroine can be more fiesty.

12. OTHER NARRATIVE
FUNCTIONS
Flash back
Flash forward
Chronological
Non-chronological