Post on 13-Feb-2017
PRO PP 'S THEORY +
TO DO ROV ’S THEO RY
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;
T H E H E R O
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.
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.
THE DISPATCHER
Character who informs the hero on lack and sends him on his quest.
THE HELPER
The character who helps the hero fight against evil.
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
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.
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.
PRINCESS FATHER
Could be a key figure towards the film
Could be in competition with the hero- a rivarly
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.
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
To understand the theory a little more easily here is an image showing the stages