Vladimir Propp (research)

 Vladimir Propp was a russian and a soviet formalist  scholar who analysed the basic blot components of russian folk tales to identify  their similar irreducible narrative elements.

Vladimir Propp’s Theory in detail 

CHARACTERS

1. The hero (seeks something)
2. The villain (opposes the hero)
3. The donor (helps the hero by providing a magic object)
4. The dispatcher (sends the hero on his way)
5. The false hero (falsely assuming the role of hero)
6. The helper (gives support to the hero)
7. The princess (the reward for the hero but also needs to be

protected from the villain

8. Her father 

NARRATIVE FUNCTIONS

Preparation (or 1st sphere: the introductory sequence)

P1. A member of the family leaves home
P2. A prohibition or rule is imposed on the hero
P3. The prohibition or rule is broken
P4. The villain makes and attempt at reconnaissance
P5. The villain learns something about his victim
P6. The villain tried to deceive the victim to get possession of
his/her belongings
P7. The victim unknowingly helps the villain by being deceived or
influenced by the villain

Complication (or 2nd sphere: The body of the story)

C1. The villain harms a member of the family
C2. A member of the family lacks or desires something
C3. This lack or misfortune is made known; the hero is given a
request or a command and he goes on a mission or quest
C4. The seeker (often the hero) plans action against the villain

Transference (or 3rd sphere: The donor sequence (magic agent is 

obtained)

T1. The hero leaves home
T2. The hero is tested, attached, interrogated and, as a result,
receives either a magical agent or a helper
T3. The Hero reacts to the actions of the future donor
T4. The hero uses the magical agent
T5. The hero is transferred to the general location of the object of
his mission or quest

Struggle (or 4th sphere: The hero’s return