Vladimir Propp analyzed Russian folk tales and identified that they follow a common pattern of 31 narrative functions. Some of the main functions include trickery by a villain, a hero being tested by hardship, and a character being transfigured or deceived. Propp also found that tales typically involve 8 types of characters, such as a villain, helper, hero, and princess. His theory was that most stories adhere to a structure of these recurring functions and character types.

1. Vladimir Propp’s Theory
By Jodie Johnson

2. Vladimir Propp’s Theory
Propp was a soviet formalist scholar who analysed the basic plot
of components of Russian folk tales to identify their narrative
elements.
Propp also identified that there are so many different functions
that occur in fairy tales. There is usually an initial situation that
occurs, then 31 different functions are usually used.

3. Some of the functions that are used..
• Trickery – Villain is usually in disguise and is trying to deceive
the ‘good character’ (victim) to attempt to take possession of
their belongings
• First function of the donor – The hero of the story is tested,
attacked, this results in preparing the arrival of the (magical)
helper that becomes a big influence in the story
• Transfiguration – The hero is given a new appearance eg; is
made handsome, different and a whole new person
• Complicity – The victim of the story is taken in by deception to
unwittingly help the enemy (villain)

4. Vladimir Propp’s Theory
Propps theory was that there is a number of different functions that
are used within each film or story and these are usually followed by
the main plot in the story. He also identified that there are 8 different
types of character, which include;
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The villain
The (magical) helper
The hero
The princess or prize
The dispatcher
Her father
The donor
The false hero