Vladimir Propp analyzed 100 fairy tales and identified 7 character functions that commonly appeared. These included the villain who struggles against the hero, the dispatcher who sends the hero on a quest, and the magical helper who aids the hero. In the movie Shrek, Lord Farquaad is both the villain and the false hero who tries to take credit for the hero's actions, while Donkey serves as the magical helper. Shrek fulfills the role of the hero who goes on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona from Lord Farquaad and ultimately marries her.

1. S
Propp’s Narrative Theory
By Orla Mcdonagh

2. Vladimir Propp
S Vladimir Propp analysed 100 fairy tales.
S He found that all the characters could be put into seven
different character functions.
S These roles could sometimes be distributed among
various characters. One character could engage in acts
more than one role.

3. The villain — struggles against
the hero.
S The villain fights the hero in the struggle between good
and evil
S For the movie 'Shrek', the villain is Lord Farquaad.
S This is the character that is always defeated in some way
by the end of the film.

4. The dispatcher — character
who makes the lack known
and sends the hero off.
S The dispatcher sneds the hero on their quest via a
message. In shrek, there are two dispatchers.
S The magic mirror that tells Lord Farquaad about the
princess and where she is.
S the second dispatcher is Lord Farquaad because he
sends the hero on his quest.

5. The (magical) helper — helps
the hero in their quest.
S The helper aids the hero on their journey.
S The magical talking donkey is the helper in this case. He
helps the hero throughout the narrative to save the
princess.

6. The donor — prepares the
hero or gives the hero some
magical object.
S In Shrek, there are 3 characters that helps the hero on
his quest.
S Donkey- convinces Shrek to go after the princess before
she marries Lord Farquaad.
S The dragon- escapes from the castle and helps shrek
and donkey make it to the wedding before Lord Farquaad
kisses Fiona and finalises the marriage.

7. The hero or victim/seeker hero
— reacts to the donor, weds
the princess.
S The hero is the main character and is the good in the
fight between good and evil against the villain.
S The hero is shrek because he is the one who went on a
quest to save the princess, and then weds the princess.

8. The false hero — takes credit
for the hero’s actions or tries to
marry the princess.
S The false hero tries to take the hero's reward and falsely
present himself as the hero.
S The false hero is Lord Farquaad because he paid shrek
to save the princess and then took credit for the hero's
actions, and he tried to marry the princess.

9. The princess- the person who
the hero marries
S The princess is often fought for between the hero and the
villain during the narrative. She is the prize for the hero
after the hero defeats the villain.
S In shrek, the princess is princess Fiona because she had
to be rescued from the big tower, and then she marries
the hero, which is Shrek.