Vladimir Propp's 31 Functions of a Fairytale.
1st Sphere: The introductory sequence 1 Member of family absents self from home/ hero is introduced
2 Interdiction announced: (don’t do X)
3 Interdiction violated: (hero does X anyway)
4 Villain tries to meet hero: (reconnaisance of hero)
5 Villain receives information about hero
6 Villain attempts to deceive hero with trickery:
7 Hero is deceived: (complicity in becoming victim/ helps villain)
2nd Sphere: The Body of the story 8 Villain causes harm, carries away a victim, the hero or the desired magical object, which must be retrieved
8a Member of hero’s family lacks or desires something (the magical object) – EITHER OF THESE BECOMES “THE LACK”
9 Hero discovers the lack
10 Hero decides on counteraction
11 Hero leaves home
3rd Sphere: The Donor Sequence (magic agent is obtained) 12 Hero tested and/ or questioned: prepares for magical agent
13 Hero responds to test of donor
14 Hero gets magical agent/ object which will help with quest
15 Location shifts to the place where “the lack” is to be found
16 Hero and villain in direct combat
17 Hero is branded
18 Villain defeated: I
19 Initial lack liquidated: the object of the quest is obtained by the hero (the tale often ends here, but can continue into the fourth sphere of action)
4th Sphere: The Hero’s return 20 Hero sets out for home
21 Hero is pursued
22 Rescue of hero from pursuit: (tale sometimes ends here)
23 Unrecognized, hero arrives home or in other country
24 False hero claims success of true hero
25 Difficult task is set
26 Task resolved by true hero
27 True hero recognized
28 False hero exposed
29 Hero given new appearance/ transfiguration
30 Villain is punished
31 Hero marries and ascends throne
1st Sphere: The introductory sequence 1 Member of family absents self from home/ hero is introduced
2 Interdiction announced: (don’t do X)
3 Interdiction violated: (hero does X anyway)
4 Villain tries to meet hero: (reconnaisance of hero)
5 Villain receives information about hero
6 Villain attempts to deceive hero with trickery:
7 Hero is deceived: (complicity in becoming victim/ helps villain)
2nd Sphere: The Body of the story 8 Villain causes harm, carries away a victim, the hero or the desired magical object, which must be retrieved
8a Member of hero’s family lacks or desires something (the magical object) – EITHER OF THESE BECOMES “THE LACK”
9 Hero discovers the lack
10 Hero decides on counteraction
11 Hero leaves home
3rd Sphere: The Donor Sequence (magic agent is obtained) 12 Hero tested and/ or questioned: prepares for magical agent
13 Hero responds to test of donor
14 Hero gets magical agent/ object which will help with quest
15 Location shifts to the place where “the lack” is to be found
16 Hero and villain in direct combat
17 Hero is branded
18 Villain defeated: I
19 Initial lack liquidated: the object of the quest is obtained by the hero (the tale often ends here, but can continue into the fourth sphere of action)
4th Sphere: The Hero’s return 20 Hero sets out for home
21 Hero is pursued
22 Rescue of hero from pursuit: (tale sometimes ends here)
23 Unrecognized, hero arrives home or in other country
24 False hero claims success of true hero
25 Difficult task is set
26 Task resolved by true hero
27 True hero recognized
28 False hero exposed
29 Hero given new appearance/ transfiguration
30 Villain is punished
31 Hero marries and ascends throne
Propp's Dramatis Personae
1. villain
2. Donor or provider
3. helper
4. princess [a sought for person] and her father
5. dispatcher
6. hero
7. false hero
1. villain
2. Donor or provider
3. helper
4. princess [a sought for person] and her father
5. dispatcher
6. hero
7. false hero