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/Bruce Wayne He risks his life to save others, fights for the greater good

Villain Bane He risks his life to hurt as many people as he can, fights for evil, killing anyone in his way.

Donor Lucias Fox Gives Batman gadgets and devices that help him out

Dispatcher Commissioner Jim Gordon He requests that Batman ruturns

False hero Miranda Tate (Talia Al Gul) Tricks Batman into making him think shes good, when she’s just as bad as Bane

Helper Selina Kyle, Alfred Both help out Bruce or Batman when needed

Princess Selina Kyle She saves Batman, when he thought she was bad

Father Alfred, Talia Al Gul Alfred is the father figure for Bruce, as he has no one else, and Talia Al Gul is Miranda Tates dad, who is dead.

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.

PR

EP

AR

AT

ION

A community (a kingdom, family, etc.) in a state of order

A member of the family leaves home

A prohibition/rule is imposed on the hero

A prohibition / rule is ignores or broken

The villain makes an attempt at reconnaissance; tries to find something out about the hero

The villain learns something about his victim

The villain tries to deceive the victim to gain an advantage

The victim is deceived and unknowingly helps the villain

CO

MP

LIC

AT

ION

The state of order is disrupted

The villain harms a member of the family

A member of the family lacks or desires something

This lack is made known to the hero who is sent on a quest

The hero plans action against the villain

TR

AN

SF

ER

EN

CE

The hero leaves home The hero is tested, attacked, interrogated: the hero receives help

The hero reacts to the donor

The hero is transferred to the location where he will fulfill his quest / task

STRUGGLE There is a struggle

between the hero and the villain The hero is branded The villain is defeated The initial state of order is restored / the lack fulfilled

RE

TU

RN

The hero returns Batman returns to Gothem after being imprisoned The hero is pursed Chased by the police as they are mistaken and thinks hes

a villian The hero escapes / is rescued

Batman climbs out of the pit and rises

The hero arrives home or some other place: he is not recognized

Goes to prison and no one knows him

A false hero makes a false claim

Maranda Tate claims to be the hero, when she turns on him in the end

The hero is given a difficult task

Batman must rise and defeat Bane

The task is accomplished

Batman wins the fight between him and Bane.

RE

CO

GN

ITIO

N

The hero is recognized The false hero / villain is exposed

The false hero / villain transforms

The false hero / villain is punished

The hero is rewarded (marries the princess and is granted wealth/power)