Vladimir Propp was a theorist who analyzed over 400 Russian folk tales and found that despite differences in characters and stories, they could be categorized into 8 character roles and 31 narrative functions that followed a predictable pattern. He identified the main characters as the hero, villain, donor, dispatcher, false hero, helper, princess, and the princess's father. The functions included things like the hero responding to a call to action, struggling against the villain, and ultimately restoring order.