Propp's theory + Todorov's theory

1. PROPP'S THEORY
+
TODOROV’S THEORY

2. INTRODUCTION
 Vladmir Propp discovered that there are always 7 main character
types present in a movie. Sometimes, characters could fit into more
than one role and this is most commonly known to be in Disney films
and children films. The 7 main characters are;

3. THE HERO
 Traditionally the hero is a male protagonist whose role it is to restore
normality or equilibrium.
 The hero is always the main character and a character that seeks
something such as a quest or try’s to solve a mystery.
 Hero is given a new appearance (is made whole, handsome, new
garments etc.)
 The character who the entire narrative is centred on, the driving force
of the story.

4. THE VILLAIN
 The villain who usually creates the narrative disruption.
 The antagonist, and arch enemy of the hero.
 Always has his/her struggles against the hero.

5. THE DISPATCHER
 Character who informs the hero on lack and sends him on his
quest.

6. THE HELPER
 The character who helps the hero fight against evil.

7. THE PRINCESS
 The princess is the character who is most threatened by the villain.
The villain usually goes after the princess to get nearer to the hero.
 The hero will go after the villain to try and save the princess. This
is usually the climax of the film and when the hero beats the villain

8. FALSE HERO
 At the start of the film the false hero is good and stands by the
hero but by the end of the film, the hero finds out that he/she is
actually bad.

9. THE HELPER
 The character who helps the hero fight against evil.
 He/she appears in important aspects of the film and helps out the
hero the defeat the villain.

10. PRINCESS FATHER
 Could be a key figure towards the film
 Could be in competition with the hero- a rivarly

11. TODOROV’S BACKGROUND
 Todorov in 1969 produced a theory which he believed to be able
to be applied to any film. He believed that all films followed the same
narrative pattern. They all went through stages called the equilibrium,
disequilibrium, acknowledgement, solving and again equilibrium.

12. FIVE STAGES
There are five stages the narrative can progress through:
 1. A state of equilibrium (All is as it should be.)
 2. A disruption of that order by an event.
 3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred.
 4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.
 5. A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium

13.  To understand the theory a little more easily here is an image
showing the stages