1. VLADIMIR PROPP (1895-1970)
Propp was a Bulgarian theorist. In his 1922 work The Morphology of the Folk Tale he
analysed something like 400 Russian folk tales. He found that across all of these
tales, despite apparent differences, characters and their actions can be categorized
into clearly defined roles and functions (8 character roles and 31 narrative functions)
which are summarized here:
The hero: seeks something, to fulfill a ‘lack’ of some kind
The villain: opposed the hero, tries to make the hero fail
The donor: aids the hero by providing an object with magical properties
The dispatcher: sends the hero on a quest of some kind
The false hero: pretends to be the hero
The helper: assists the hero in some way
The princess: doubles up as a reward for the hero and the object of the
villain’s plot
Her father: will reward the hero (often by giving the hero his daughter)
DARK KNIGHT RISES
(which character fulfils this role and why?)
Hero Batman/Bruce Wayne
He risks his life to save others, fights for the greater good
Villain Bane
He risks his life to hurt as many people as he can, fights for evil,
killing anyone in his way.
Donor Lucias Fox
Gives Batman gadgets and devices that help him out
Dispatcher Commissioner Jim Gordon
He requests that Batman ruturns
False hero Miranda Tate (Talia Al Gul)
Tricks Batman into making him think shes good, when she’s just
as bad as Bane
Helper Selina Kyle, Alfred
Both help out Bruce or Batman when needed
Princess Selina Kyle
She saves Batman, when he thought she was bad
Father Alfred, Talia Al Gul
Alfred is the father figure for Bruce, as he has no one else, and
Talia Al Gul is Miranda Tates dad, who is dead.

2. PROPP NARRATIVE FUNCTION
These functions should not be seen just as events, actions or characters in themselves, but as
elements in a narrative which can occur at different places. The same action can have a different
meaning depending on where it occurs.
PREPARATION
A community (a
kingdom, family, etc.) in
a state of order
A member of the family
leaves home
A prohibition/rule is
imposed on the hero
A prohibition / rule is
ignores or broken
The villain makes an
attempt at
reconnaissance; tries to
find something out
about the hero
The villain learns
something about his
victim
The villain tries to
deceive the victim to
gain an advantage
The victim is deceived
and unknowingly helps
the villain
COMPLICATION
The state of order is
disrupted
The villain harms a
member of the family
A member of the family
lacks or desires
something
This lack is made
known to the hero who
is sent on a quest
The hero plans action
against the villain
TRANSFERENCE
The hero leaves home
The hero is tested,
attacked, interrogated:
the hero receives help
The hero reacts to the
donor
The hero is transferred
to the location where
he will fulfill his quest /
task
S
T
R
There is a struggle

3. between the hero and
the villain
The hero is branded
The villain is defeated
The initial state of order
is restored / the lack
fulfilled
RETURN
The hero returns Batman returns to Gothem after being imprisoned
The hero is pursed Chased by the police as they are mistaken and thinks hes
a villian
The hero escapes / is
rescued
Batman climbs out of the pit and rises
The hero arrives home
or some other place: he
is not recognized
Goes to prison and no one knows him
A false hero makes a
false claim
Maranda Tate claims to be the hero, when she turns on
him in the end
The hero is given a
difficult task
Batman must rise and defeat Bane
The task is
accomplished
Batman wins the fight between him and Bane.
RECOGNITION
The hero is recognized
The false hero / villain
is exposed
The false hero / villain
transforms
The false hero / villain
is punished
The hero is rewarded
(marries the princess
and is granted
wealth/power)