Narrative TheoriesNarrative TheoriesTasnim Chowdhury

Vladimir ProppVladimir Propp

Vladimir Propp, born in 1895, was a Russian folklorist and scholar. He analysed the basic plot of Russian folktales and fairytales to identify their narrative elements. He broke up fairytales into sections,

fundamentally he used the method of his 31 functions to decipher Russian folklore and fairytales. In the 100 tales he analysed he also came to the conclusion that

all characters in each fairytale or folklore could be concluded into 7 broad character functions.

Below is a link to Propp’s 31 functions and 7 character

conclusions: http://www.mediaknowall.com/as_alevel/alevkeyconcepts/alevelkeycon.php?pageID=propp

Application of Propp’s theory: 7 Application of Propp’s theory: 7 Characters – The Avengers: Age of Characters – The Avengers: Age of

UltronUltron

The Villain: Ultron The Villain is someone who struggles with the Hero. In The Avengers the villain is Ultron.

Often the imagery of the villain is dark, mysterious and simply

not appealing as is evident through the image of our villain

on the left. The villain also tends to have some form of a

damaging story and background to their character.

This is all done to juxtapose and create a further highligted binary opposition between the hero and the villain. All these aspects have been perfectly

presented through Ultron in The Avengers.

Application of Propp’s theory: 7 Application of Propp’s theory: 7 Characters – The Avengers: Age of Characters – The Avengers: Age of

UltronUltron

The Dispatcher: Nick FuryThe Dispatcher is someone who

encourages or invites the hero to eliminate the villain. In this case Nick

Fury appears to restore faith within The Avengers when they are at their lowest

with no hope to defeat the villain.

Application of Propp’s theory: 7 Application of Propp’s theory: 7 Characters – The Avengers: Age of Characters – The Avengers: Age of

UltronUltron

The Helper: Jarvis

Jarvis is the helper in The Avengers. the helper usually assists the Hero

physically in order to defeat the Villain. Other examples would be exemplified through Batman and

Robin. Robin is the helper in this case and always assists batman physically

to conquer the evil of the villain.

Application of Propp’s theory: 7 Application of Propp’s theory: 7 Characters – The Avengers: Age of Characters – The Avengers: Age of

UltronUltron

The Princess: Black WidowThe Princess is the character who

seeks to be or needs to be rescued by the villain. This

character is often considered to be an image of the damsel in

distress. Though Black Widow is part of the Hero characterics in

The Avengers, she plays a double as she appears to be captured by the villain at one point in the film and is rescued by an alternative

hero, The Hulk.

Application of Propp’s theory: 7 Application of Propp’s theory: 7 Characters – The Avengers: Age of Characters – The Avengers: Age of

UltronUltron

The Donor: The Twins:Pietro and Wanda The Donor in the film is

someone who offers the hero some form of help,

whether that be a weapon or some other form of

assistance. In this case the Donor is The Twins: Pietro and Wanda who help the

hero’s with the extermination of Ultron with the use of their additional

powers.

Application of Propp’s theory: 7 Application of Propp’s theory: 7 Characters – The Avengers: Age of Characters – The Avengers: Age of

UltronUltron

The Hero: The AvengersThe Hero in the film is obviously, The Avengers. The Hero is the figure who

eliminated The Villain which is the role that all The Avengers play as a whole in

this film. This is the most common character type.

Tzevetan TodrovTzevetan Todrov

Todorov born in 1939 was the author of many books. He is a Bulgarian-French historian,

philosopher, literary critic as well as a sociologist. He simplified the narrative theory as he believed that every storyline and plot coincided and fitted

with his 5 paths or patterns that appear in a production. These 5 patterns consist of:

1.The Equilibrium2.Disruption3.Realisation4.Restored Order5.Restoration of Equilibrium

Application of Todrov’s Theory: Application of Todrov’s Theory: The Hunger GamesThe Hunger Games

The Equilibrium

The Equilibrium here is presented as they are presented on a chat show. Everything is

relatively calm and there is no sense of disruption or turmoil. Starting the

film on a calm and steady note which infers

normality for the audience.

Application of Todrov’s Theory: Application of Todrov’s Theory: The Hunger GamesThe Hunger Games

Disruption

Here is the scene which signifies disruption and shows signs of evident conflict and disruption

between Catniss Everdeen, the girl

pictures in the dress and the men dressed in

white.

Application of Todrov’s Theory: Application of Todrov’s Theory: The Hunger GamesThe Hunger Games

Realisation

At this point is the realisation of disequiblirium. Here we realise and understand the conflict amongst all contenders and how the coming events are to unravel as they compete against one another.

Application of Todrov’s Theory: Application of Todrov’s Theory: The Hunger GamesThe Hunger Games

Restored Order

This Birdseye shot shows restored order as The Hunger Games are over and they are

now being rescued from the arena.

Application of Todrov’s Theory: Application of Todrov’s Theory: The Hunger GamesThe Hunger Games

Restoration of Equilibrium

Restoration of Equilibrium is presented

as they end the film appearing once again on the talk show appearing

calm and again addressing and

presenting normality.

Claudi Levi-StraussClaudi Levi-Strauss

Levi-Strauss, born in 1908 was a french anthropologist and ethnologist. His analysis of narrative theories came to the conclusion that all narratives are arranged around the conflict between opposites. For example in

the form of film it would be:

Hero vs VillainGood vs BadLight vs DarkWar vs Peace etc.