Vladimir Propp identified 7 character archetypes that commonly appear in folktales: 1. The hero who responds to challenges from the villain and receives help from the donor and magical helper. 2. The villain who struggles against the hero. 3. The donor who prepares or gives objects to the hero. 4. The magical helper who aids the hero. 5. The princess who the hero marries. 6. The false hero who is perceived as good but emerges as evil. 7. The dispatcher who makes the problem known and sends the hero off.

1. Vladimir Propp Theory
Propp found that all the characters could be resolved into 7 broad character functions;
1. The hero [AKA victim/seeker/paladin/winner, reacts to the donor, weds the princess
2. The villain (struggles against the hero)
3. The donor (prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object)
4. The (magical) helper (helps the hero in the quest)
5. The princess (person the hero marries, often sought for during the narrative)
6. The false hero (perceived as good character in beginning but emerges as evil)
7. The dispatcher (character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off)

2. The Hero
Harry Potter, the victim who
becomes the hero in the Harry
Potter series. Begins with Harry
being victimised and bullied by his
aunt and uncle. Parents killed by
Villain when he was younger. Then
approached and receives
information from the donor which
gives him a fighting chance

3. The Villain
The bad guy, aims to kill Harry after he
managed to live when he attempted to
murder the whole family due to the
prophecy made saying that Voldemort
would be defeated by a boy born at the end
of July, which Voldemort took to mean Harry

4. The Donor
Hagrid Introduces Harry to the
wizarding world and helps him
get his first wand

5. The Helper
Two of Harry's friends that help him on his
quest to defeat the bad guy. Aiding him in
everyway possible.

6. The Princess
Although not a conventional princess,
she ends up wedding the hero. She is
a character who has been rescued.

7. False Hero
The figure who takes credit for the hero’s
actions or tries to marry the princess.

8. The Dispatcher
The character invites the hero to
eliminate the evil. In this story
Dumbledore makes aware to the hero
(Harry) that evil forces are at work.