Vladimir Propp analyzed over 400 Russian folk tales and identified character types and narrative patterns. He found that characters could be categorized into 8 character roles including the hero, villain, donor, dispatcher, false hero, helper, princess, and father. He also identified 31 narrative functions that described common events and plot points across the tales, such as the hero receiving a call to action, struggling against the villain, and restoring order. The Dark Knight Rises maps onto Propp's analysis with Bruce Wayne as the hero, Bane as the villain, Lucius Fox as the donor, and John Blake fulfilling several roles.

1. VLADIMIRPROPP (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: opposedthe hero, tries to make the hero fail
The donor: aids the hero by providing an objectwith 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 objectof the
villain’s plot
Her father: will reward the hero (oftenby giving the hero his daughter)
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.
PREPA
RATIO
N
A community (a
kingdom, family, etc.) in
a state of order
Gotham City is safe.
A member of the family
leaves home
Alfred leaves Bruce.
DARK KNIGHT RISES
(which character fulfils this role and why?)
Hero Batman (Bruce Wayne). The saviour and protectorof Gotham.
Villain Bane or Miranda Tate. Bane does the bidding of Miranda Tate
who you could argue is the true villain.
Donor Lucius Fox heads Wayne’s research and development
programme in Wayne enterprises and designs Batman’s
vehicles, weapons etc..
Dispatcher John Blake. A police officerwho believes in the Batman and
knows his true identity. He tells Bruce that Batman needs to
return.
False hero Miranda Tate is trusted to take control of Wayne enterprises and
she betrays Bruce as she is really working with Bane.
Helper John Blake, Selina Kyle, CommissionerGordonand Alfred.
Princess Miranda Tate, Batman sets out to save her but she turns out to
be a ‘false princess’as she’s really working with Bane.
Father Ras Al Gul, he makes a brief appearance in the film when Bruce
is in the prison. Ras Al Gul is the leader of the league of shadows
and father of Miranda Tate, he taught Bruce everything he knows
and Tate wants to fulfill his destiny of destroying Gotham.

2. A prohibition/rule is
imposed on the hero
Batman is laying low because he is wanted for the murder
of Harvey Dent.
A prohibition / rule is
ignores or broken
This rule is broken when Batman goes after Bane.
The villain makes an
attempt at
reconnaissance; tries to
find something out
about the hero
Selina Kyle takes takes Bruce Wayne’s finger prints.
The villain learns
something about his
victim
Bane finds out that Harvey Dent was the villain and
Batman was the hero.
The villain tries to
deceive the victim to
gain an advantage
Miranda Tate gets close to Bruce Wayne.
The victim is deceived
and unknowingly helps
the villain
Bruce Wayne helps Miranda Tate build the nuclear
reactor.
COMPLICATION
The state of order is
disrupted
Selina Kyle steals pearls from Bruce Wayne and Bane
captures the city.
The villain harms a
member of the family
CommissionerGordonis shot.
A member of the family
lacks or desires
something
Alfred wants Bruce Wayne to leave Gotham and live a
normal life.
This lack is made
known to the hero who
is sent on a quest
Alfred tells Bruce about Rachels letter telling Bruce that
she chose Harvey Dent over him.
The hero plans action
against the villain
Batman tries to stop Bane.
TRANSFERENCE
The hero leaves home Bruce Wayne is imprisoned.
The hero is tested,
attacked, interrogated:
the hero receives help
Batman fights with Bane and loses,he then has to rise
again from ‘hell on earth’ a prison.
The hero reacts to the
donor
Bruce listens to the prison doctorand makes the jump
without a rope so he has a fear of death.
The hero is transferred
to the location where
he will fulfill his quest /
task
Bruce escapes the prison and returns to Gotham.
STRUGGLE
There is a struggle
between the hero and
the villain
Batman and Bane fight outside the town hall in Gotham.
The hero is branded Bruce Wayne’s back is broken.
The villain is defeated Bane is killed and Miranda Tate is crippled.
The initial state of order
is restored / the lack
fulfilled
Gotham is safe once again due to batman saving it.
People think batman is dead and Alfred see’s him in
another country alive.
RET
URN
The hero returns Batman returns to Gotham after escaping the prison.
The hero is pursed Batman is chased by the police.
The hero escapes / is Bruce escapes the prison.

3. rescued
The hero arrives home
or some other place: he
is not recognized
Bruce goes to prison, or when Batman goes to Banes
hideout and loses the fight.
A false hero makes a
false claim
Bane claims to liberate Gotham in the footballstadium.
The hero is given a
difficult task
Escaping the prison.
The task is
accomplished
Batman defeats Bane.
RECOGNITION
The hero is recognized Batman flys the bomb clear of the city and saves Gotham.
The false hero / villain
is exposed
Miranda Tate stabs Batman when he is about to defeat
Bane.
The false hero / villain
transforms
Selina Kyle changes and stays to help Batman.
The false hero / villain
is punished
Miranda Tate is in a car crash and she becomes trapped
and very injured in a truck and Bane is killed.
The hero is rewarded
(marries the princess
and is granted
wealth/power)
Bruce Wayne ends up with Selina Kyle, that is his reward
although she was not the princess and Miranda Tate was.