Scribd
Upload
120 views2 pages

Propp's 31 Functions of Fairy Tales

Vladimir Propp analyzed Russian folktales and identified 31 recurring narrative functions or events that typically occur. These include an initial situation, a member of the family leaving home, an interdiction being addressed to the hero, the interdiction being violated by a villain, the villain attempting to deceive or harm the victim, the victim or family member lacking something or desiring something, a seeker agreeing to counter the villain's actions, the hero acquiring a magical agent to help defeat the villain, the villain being defeated, and the initial misfortune being resolved with the hero returning home rewarded.

Uploaded by

Rulzishor Rulzishoara
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
120 views2 pages

Propp's 31 Functions of Fairy Tales

Vladimir Propp analyzed Russian folktales and identified 31 recurring narrative functions or events that typically occur. These include an initial situation, a member of the family leaving home, an interdiction being addressed to the hero, the interdiction being violated by a villain, the villain attempting to deceive or harm the victim, the victim or family member lacking something or desiring something, a seeker agreeing to counter the villain's actions, the hero acquiring a magical agent to help defeat the villain, the villain being defeated, and the initial misfortune being resolved with the hero returning home rewarded.

Uploaded by

Rulzishor Rulzishoara
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

VLADIMIR PROPPS FAIRY TALE FUNCTIONS

(Based upon a Russian formalist approach to Russian folk and fairy


tales).

After the initial situation is depicted, the tale takes the following
sequence:

1. A member of a family leaves home (the hero is introduced);
2. An interdiction is addressed to the hero (dont go there, go to
this place);
3. The interdiction is violated (villain enters the tale);
4. The villain makes an attempt at reconnaissance (either villain
tries to find the children/jewels etc; or intended victim questions
the villain);
5. The villain gains information about the victim;
6. The villain attempts to deceive the victim to take possession of
victim or victims belongings (trickery; villain disguised, tries to win
confidence of victim);
7. Victim taken in by deception, unwittingly helping the enemy;
8. Villain causes harm/injury to family member (by abduction,
theft of magical agent, spoiling crops, plunders in other forms,
causes a disappearance, expels someone, casts spell on someone,
substitutes child etc, commits murder, imprisons/detains someone,
threatens forced marriage, provides nightly torments); Alternatively,
a member of family lacks something or desires something (magical
potion etc);
9. Misfortune or lack is made known, (hero is dispatched, hears
call for help etc/ alternative is that victimized hero is sent away,
freed from imprisonment);
10. Seeker agrees to, or decides upon counter-action;
11. Hero leaves home;
12. Hero is tested, interrogated, attacked etc, preparing the way
for his/her receiving magical agent or helper (donor);
13. Hero reacts to actions of future donor (withstands/fails the
test, frees captive, reconciles disputants, performs service, uses
adversarys powers against them);
14. Hero acquires use of a magical agent (directly transferred,
located, purchased, prepared, spontaneously appears, eaten/drunk,
help offered by other characters);
15. Hero is transferred, delivered or led to whereabouts of an
object of the search;
16. Hero and villain join in direct combat;
17. Hero is branded (wounded/marked, receives ring or scarf);
18. Villain is defeated (killed in combat, defeated in contest, killed
while asleep, banished);
19. Initial misfortune or lack is resolved (object of search
distributed, spell broken, slain person revived, captive freed);
20. Hero returns;
21. Hero is pursued (pursuer tries to kill, eat, undermine the hero);
22. Hero is rescued from pursuit (obstacles delay pursuer, hero
hides or is hidden, hero transforms unrecognizably, hero saved
from attempt on his/her life);
23. Hero unrecognized, arrives home or in another country;
24. False hero presents unfounded claims;
25. Difficult task proposed to the hero (trial by ordeal, riddles, test
of strength/endurance, other tasks);
26. Task is resolved;
27. Hero is recognized (by mark, brand, or thing given to
him/her);
28. False hero or villain is exposed;
29. Hero is given a new appearance (is made whole, handsome,
new garments etc);
30. Villain is punished;
31. Hero marries and ascends the throne (is rewarded/promoted).


Vladimir Propp Morphology of the Folktale
University of Texas Press:Austin and London (1968)

You might also like