8/13/2019 Vladimir Propp s 31 Functions
1/6
Vladimir Jakovlevic Propp (1895-1970)
Morphology of the olktale (19!8)
7 "ole#
herovillai$
di#patcher
do$or
helper
#o%ght-for per#o$ (a$d her father)
fal#e hero
&1 %$ctio$#
Preparatory 'ectio$
l *$e of the mem+er# of a family a+#e$t# him#elf from home
! ,$ i$terdictio$ (+a$) i# addre##ed to the hero
& he i$terdictio$ i# violated (he villai$ %#%ally e$ter# the
#tory here)
. he villai$ make# a$ attempt at reco$$ai##a$ce
5 he villai$ receive# i$formatio$ a+o%t hi# victim (he
villai$ get# a$ a$#/er)
he villai$ attempt# to deceive hi# victim +y %#i$g
per#%a#io$ magic or deceptio$
7 he victim #%+mit# to deceptio$ a$d there+y %$/itti$gly
help# hi# e$emy (2ero #leep#)
Villai$y 3 4ack (Plot #et i$ motio$)
8 he villai$ ca%#e# harm or i$%ry to a mem+er of a family
8a *$e mem+er of a family either lack# #omethi$g or de#ire#
to have #omethi$g
9 Mi#fort%$e or lack i# made k$o/$ the hero i# approached
/ith a re6%e#t or comma$d he i# allo/ed to go or he i# di#patched
10 he #eeker (hero) agree# to or decide# %po$ co%$teractio$#
11 he hero leave# home 1! he hero i# te#ted i$terrogated attacked etc /hich
prepare# the /ay for hi# receivi$g either a magical age$t or helper
(he do$or %#%ally e$ter# the #tory here)
1& he hero react# to the actio$# of the f%t%re do$or
1. he hero ac6%ire# the %#e of a magical age$t
15 he hero i# tra$#ferred delivered or led to the /herea+o%t#
of a$ o+ect of #earch
Path , 'tr%ggle a$d Victory over Villai$ $d of 4ack a$d "et%r$
1 he hero a$d villai$ oi$ i$ direct com+at 17 he hero i# +ra$ded
8/13/2019 Vladimir Propp s 31 Functions
2/6
8/13/2019 Vladimir Propp s 31 Functions
3/6
#h%ffle
their
%$varyi
$g
order
'ome$arrativ
e#
#%+vert
the
f%$ctio
$#
(altho%
gh the
f%$ctio
$# $eed
to +eide$tifi
a+le i$
order to
+e
#%+vert
ed)
8 >haracter#
he hero or victim3 #eeker hero react# to the do$or /ed# the pri$ce##
he villai$ (#tr%ggle# agai$#t the hero)
he do$or (prepare# the hero or give# the hero #ome magical o+ect)
he (magical) helper (help# the hero i$ the 6%e#t)
he pri$ce## (per#o$ the hero marrie# ofte$ #o%ght for d%ri$g the
$arrative)
2er father
he di#patcher (character /ho make# the lack k$o/$ a$d #e$d# the
hero off)
he fal#e hero3 a$ti-hero3 %#%rper - (take# credit for the hero?# actio$# 3
trie# to marry the pri$ce##)
he#e character# are $ot e=cl%#ive - for i$#ta$ce the
fal#e hero ca$ al#o +e
the villai$ i$ di#g%i#e the di#patcher ca$ al#o +e the
do$or
8/13/2019 Vladimir Propp s 31 Functions
4/6
&1 %$ctio$#
Preparatio$
1 , mem+er of a family leave# home3 the hero3 victim i#
i$trod%ced
! , prohi+itio$3 r%le i# impo#ed o$ the hero (eg do$?t do =+eca%#e)
& he hero +reak# the r%le
. he villai$ trie# to fi$d o%t i$formatio$ a+o%t the hero3
victim
5 he villai$ lear$# #omethi$g a+o%t the hero3 victim
he villai$ trie# to deceive the hero3 victim i$ order to get
po##e##io$ of him 3 hi# +elo$gi$g#
7 he hero i# deceived3 the victim i# deceived i$to helpi$g the
villai$
>omplicatio$8 he villai$ harm# a mem+er of the family3 #teal# a de#ired
o+ect /hich m%#t +e retrieved
or
, mem+er of the hero3 victim?# family lack# or de#ire#
#omethi$g
ither of the#e +ecome# @he 4ack@ the
#ati#factio$ of /hich i# the foc%# of the
$arrative
9 he lack3 mi#fort%$e i# made k$o/$ the hero i# give$ a
re6%e#t or comma$d a$d i# #e$t3 goe# o$ a mi##io$ 3 6%e#t to #ati#fy the #it%atio$
10 he hero3 #eeker pla$# actio$ agai$#t the villai$
ra$#fere$ce
11 he hero leave# home
1! he hero i# te#ted3 i$terrogated a$d a# a re#%lt prepare# to
receive either a magical age$t or a helper
1& he hero re#po$d# to the te#t3 actio$# of the f%t%re do$or
1. he hero get#3 %#e# the magical o+ect3 helper
15 he hero i# tra$#ferred to the ge$eral locatio$ /here @the
lack@ ca$ +e re#olved
>o$flict
1 he hero a$d villai$ i$ direct com+at
17 he hero i# +ra$ded
18 he villai$ i# defeated
19 @he lack@ i# #et right the o+ect of the 6%e#t i# o+tai$ed +y
the hero (ofte$ the tale e$d# here +%t ca$ co$ti$%e)
"et%r$
!0 he hero #et# o%t for home
!1 he hero i# p%r#%ed
!! he hero i# re#c%ed from p%r#%it (the tale #ometime# e$d#here)
8/13/2019 Vladimir Propp s 31 Functions
5/6
!& he hero arrive# home or el#e/here a$d i# $ot recog$i#ed
!. , fal#e hero arrive# maki$g fal#e claim#
!5 , diffic%lt ta#k i# #et for the hero
! he hero re#olve# the ta#k
"ecog$itio$!7 he hero i# recog$i#ed
!8 he fal#e hero3 villai$ i# e=po#ed
!9 he hero i# tra$#formed
&0 he villai$ i# p%$i#hed
&1 he hero marrie# a$d i# cro/$ed
Vladimir Propp
he &1 Aarrateme#
2ere are the &1 eleme$t# of #torie# that Propp ide$tified pl%# their #ym+oli$terpretatio$# a$d di#c%##io$ Aote that #ome of the#e f%$ctio$# ge$erally occ%r i$
pair# #%ch a# depart%re a$d ret%r$ hey may al#o +e repeated
e/ #torie# co$tai$ all eleme$t# +%t /here they do co$tai$ eleme$t# they /ill very
largely occ%r i$ the #e6%e$ce give$ here
0. Initial situation
1#t 'phere B$trod%ctio$
'tep# 1 to 7 i$trod%ce the #it%atio$ a$d mo#t of the mai$ character# #etti$g the#ce$e for #%+#e6%e$t adve$t%re
1. Absentation: Someone goes missing
2. Interdiction: Hero is warned3. Violation of interdiction
4. Reconnaissance: Villain sees somet!ing". #eli$er%: &!e $illain gains information'. &ricer%: Villain attem(ts to decei$e $ictim). *om(licit%: +nwitting !el(ing of t!e enem%
!$d 'phere he ody of the #tory
he mai$ #tory #tart# here a$d e=te$d# to the depart%re of the hero o$
the mai$ 6%e#t
,. Villain% and lac: &!e need is identified-. ediation: Hero disco$ers t!e lac10. *ounteraction: Hero c!ooses (ositi$e action11. #e(arture: Hero lea$e on mission
&rd 'phere he Co$or 'e6%e$ce
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/initial_situation.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/absentation.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/interdiction.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/violation.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/reconnaisance.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/delivery.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/trickery.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/complicity.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/villainy.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/mediation.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/counteraction.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/departure.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/initial_situation.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/absentation.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/interdiction.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/violation.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/reconnaisance.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/delivery.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/trickery.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/complicity.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/villainy.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/mediation.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/counteraction.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/departure.htm8/13/2019 Vladimir Propp s 31 Functions
6/6
B$ the third #phere the hero goe# i$ #earch of a method +y /hich the
#ol%tio$ may +e reached gai$i$g the magical age$t from the Co$or
Aote that thi# i$ it#elf may +e a complete #tory
12. &esting: Hero is c!allenged to (ro$e !eroic /ualities
13. Reaction: Hero res(onds to test14. Ac/uisition: Hero gains magical item1". uidance: Hero reac!es destination
1'. Struggle: Hero and $illain do battle1). randing: Hero is branded
1,. Victor%: Villain is defeated1-. Resolution: Initial misfortune or lac is resol$ed
.th 'phere he 2eroD# ret%r$
B$ the fi$al (a$d ofte$ optio$al) pha#e of the #toryli$e the hero ret%r$#
home hopef%lly %$eve$tf%lly a$d to a hero?# /elcome altho%gh thi#may $ot al/ay# +e the ca#e
20. Return: Hero sets out for !ome21. ursuit: Hero is c!ased22. Rescue: (ursuit ends23. Arri$al: Hero arri$es unrecognied24. *laim: alse !ero maes unfounded claims2". &as: #ifficult tas (ro(osed to t!e !ero
2'. Solution: &as is resol$ed2). Recognition: Hero is recognised
2,. 56(osure: alse !ero is e6(osed
2-. &ransfiguration: Hero is gi$en a new a((earance30. unis!ment: Villain is (unis!ed31. 7edding: Hero marries and ascends t!e t!rone
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/testing.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/reaction.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/acquisition.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/guidance.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/struggle.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/branding.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/victory.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/resolution.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/return.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/pursuit.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/rescue.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/arrival.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/claim.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/task.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/solution.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/recognition.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/exposure.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/transfiguration.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/punishment.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/wedding.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/testing.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/reaction.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/acquisition.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/guidance.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/struggle.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/branding.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/victory.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/resolution.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/return.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/pursuit.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/rescue.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/arrival.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/claim.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/task.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/solution.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/recognition.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/exposure.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/transfiguration.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/punishment.htmhttp://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/wedding.htmTop Related