Theory Name: Narrative Structure

Theorists Name: Vladimir Propp

Definition: Propp was a formalist who was trying to uncover the building blocks of folk tales and stories, he analysed 100 folk and fairy tales to identify how characters are used to move the narrative forward. Roles in the narrative would typically include the villain, the hero, the donor, the helper, the princess, the princess’s father, the dispatcher and the false hero.
Examples:  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 

The villain – Tom Riddle (Lord Voldmort)

The hero – Harry Potter      

The donor – the Phoenix provides sorting hat, which provides a sword

The helper who aids the hero – Ron Weasley

The princess – Ginny Weasley

Father – Dumbledore, cares for all students, including Harry. Looked up to by all as a father figure.

The dispatcher – Moaning Myrtle, helps show the entrance to the chamber.

The false hero – Professor Gilderoy Lockhart

Flaws in this theory: 

• Propp ignores the tone and mood of a film in his analysis which differentiates one tale from another. 
• Levi-Strauss was a main critic of Propp’s theory, he believed that there was a need of seeking meaning in tales, which Propp ignores.