This document discusses Vladimir Propp's character theory and its application to analyzing characters in films. Propp identified 7 broad character types that commonly appear in stories: the villain, donor, helper, princess, false hero, dispatcher, and hero/seeker. As an example, the characters in the film Thor are identified and categorized according to Propp's theory. The document also lists some other common character roles and asks readers to identify examples of these roles from films.

1. Media Studies
Propps Character Theory

2. Task
• In groups you have fifteen minutes.
• Choose a recent film you have watched.
• Name the characters in that film.
• What type of character are they and how do you know?
• You could do this as a brainstorm.
• You can choose any recent film you have watched.
• You are going to feedback back to the group.

3. Types of characters
• These are some of the main characters you could have within
a film:
• Protagonist – hero of the film.
• Antagonist – Villain of the film.
• Sidekick – friend of the main character
• Damsel / love interest – object of desire pursuit.
• Do these roles match the characters you have identified?

4. Character Theory
• Vladmir Propp analysed over one hundered texts/media and
he identified seven broad character types.
• He believed that you could adapt these types to fit the
characters in all text/media.

5. Character Theroy
• Propps Theory
• The villain (struggles against the hero)
• The donor (prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical
object)
• The (magical) helper (helps the hero in the quest)
• The princess (person the hero marries, often sought for during
the narrative)
• The false hero (perceived as good character in beginning but
emerges as evil)
• The dispatcher (character who makes the lack known and
sends the hero off)
• The hero or victim/seeker hero, reacts to the donor, weds the
princess

6. Thor
• Who would the characters be in the film.
• Watch the trailer
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOddp-nlNvQ

7. Thor
• The villain
• The donor
• The (magical) helper
• The princess
• The false hero
• The dispatcher
• The hero or victim/seeker hero
• Characters are:
• Thor, Odin, Jane, Destroyer, Loki, Heimdall, Erik
Selvig

8. Other Characters
• Stories alter and change over time consider some of these
roles can you name some film examples of these roles.
• Reluctant Hero
• Anti-hero
• Corrupted villain – may have honourable origin or intention.
• Femme Fatale
• Henchman
• Patriarch
• Matriarch
• In groups you have ten minutes can you identfify any of these
characters.