2.9 Vladimir Propp

Vladimir Propp's structural analysis of folktales revolutionized literary theory. He identified 31 narrative functions and 7 character archetypes in Russian fairy tales, revealing underlying patterns in storytelling. This approach laid the groundwork for structuralism in literary studies.

Propp's work influenced narratology and inspired further developments like Greimas' actantial model. While his theory has limitations, its impact extends beyond folktales to myths, legends, and comparative mythology. Propp's legacy continues to shape narrative studies and structural analysis in literature.

Propp's structural analysis of folktales

• Vladimir Propp was a Russian folklorist and scholar who developed a groundbreaking approach to analyzing the structure of folktales
• Propp's work, particularly his book "Morphology of the Folktale" (1928), laid the foundation for the structuralist approach to literary analysis
• He identified common patterns and elements in Russian fairy tales, arguing that they shared a similar underlying structure despite surface-level variations

31 narrative functions in folktales

• Propp identified 31 basic narrative functions that he believed were present in all Russian fairy tales
• These functions represent the fundamental actions or events that occur in the story, such as "absentation" (a family member leaves home), "interdiction" (a prohibition is imposed on the hero), and "struggle" (the hero and villain engage in direct combat)
• According to Propp, these functions always occur in the same sequence, although not all functions are necessarily present in every tale
• The functions are performed by characters who have specific roles in the story, such as the hero, villain, or donor
• Propp's identification of these recurring narrative elements helped to reveal the underlying structure of folktales and paved the way for further structural analysis of literature

7 character archetypes

• In addition to the 31 narrative functions, Propp identified seven broad character archetypes that appear in Russian fairy tales
• These archetypes include the villain, the donor (who provides the hero with a magical agent), the helper (who assists the hero in their quest), the princess (the sought-for person) and her father, the dispatcher (who sends the hero on their mission), the hero, and the false hero
• Each of these archetypes performs specific functions within the story and has a defined role in relation to the other characters
• Propp's identification of these archetypes helped to demonstrate the recurring patterns of character roles and interactions in folktales

Propp's influence on narratology

• Propp's work had a significant impact on the development of narratology, the study of narrative structure and elements
• His structural analysis of folktales provided a model for examining the underlying patterns and components of stories across different genres and cultures

Inspiring Greimas' actantial model

Top images from around the web for Inspiring Greimas' actantial model

• 

  On the role of Susanna in Susanna: A Greimassian contribution View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Actantial model of Judith, a key to unlocking its possible purpose: A Greimassian contribution View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Actantial model of Judith, a key to unlocking its possible purpose: A Greimassian contribution View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  On the role of Susanna in Susanna: A Greimassian contribution View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Actantial model of Judith, a key to unlocking its possible purpose: A Greimassian contribution View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Inspiring Greimas' actantial model

• 

  On the role of Susanna in Susanna: A Greimassian contribution View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Actantial model of Judith, a key to unlocking its possible purpose: A Greimassian contribution View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Actantial model of Judith, a key to unlocking its possible purpose: A Greimassian contribution View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  On the role of Susanna in Susanna: A Greimassian contribution View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Actantial model of Judith, a key to unlocking its possible purpose: A Greimassian contribution View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Propp's character archetypes and narrative functions influenced the work of French semiotician Algirdas Julien Greimas
• Greimas developed the actantial model, which further abstracted Propp's character roles into six basic actants (subject, object, sender, receiver, helper, and opponent) that could be applied to a wider range of narratives
• The actantial model helped to expand the application of structural analysis beyond folktales to other forms of literature and media

Comparison to Campbell's hero's journey

• Propp's work on the structure of folktales has been compared to Joseph Campbell's concept of the hero's journey, as outlined in his book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" (1949)
• Both Propp and Campbell identified recurring patterns and stages in the narratives they studied, although Campbell's hero's journey is more broadly applicable to myths and stories from various cultures
• While there are similarities between the two theories, Propp's work is more focused on the specific structure of Russian fairy tales, while Campbell's hero's journey is a more general framework for understanding the common elements of heroic narratives

Propp's morphology vs formalism

• Propp's morphological approach to analyzing folktales differed from the prevailing formalist approach in Russian literary studies at the time

Focus on syntagmatic structure

• Propp's analysis focused on the syntagmatic structure of folktales, examining the linear sequence of narrative elements and how they relate to one another
• He was interested in the underlying structure that governed the arrangement of events and character roles in the story
• This approach differed from the formalists' emphasis on the aesthetic and poetic qualities of literature

Contrast with paradigmatic approach

• The formalists, such as Viktor Shklovsky and Roman Jakobson, were more concerned with the paradigmatic aspects of literature, focusing on the ways in which literary devices and techniques created meaning and defamiliarization
• They emphasized the importance of literary form and the relationship between literary elements, rather than the linear progression of the narrative
• Propp's morphological approach, in contrast, prioritized the study of the syntagmatic structure and the sequential arrangement of narrative elements

Limitations of Propp's theory

• While Propp's structural analysis of folktales was groundbreaking, it has some limitations that have been recognized by later scholars

Restricted to Russian fairy tales

• Propp's study was based exclusively on a corpus of Russian fairy tales, which raises questions about the universality of his findings
• Some scholars have argued that the 31 narrative functions and 7 character archetypes may not be applicable to folktales from other cultures or to other genres of literature
• The specificity of Propp's analysis to Russian fairy tales limits its direct applicability to a broader range of narratives

Rigid sequential structure

• Propp's insistence on a fixed sequence of narrative functions has been criticized as being too rigid and not allowing for variations or deviations from the prescribed order
• Some scholars have argued that not all folktales or narratives follow the exact sequence outlined by Propp, and that there may be more flexibility in the arrangement of narrative elements than his theory allows
• The rigid sequential structure proposed by Propp may not fully account for the diversity and complexity of narrative forms across different cultures and genres

Applications beyond folktales

• Despite the limitations of Propp's theory, his structural approach to analyzing narratives has been applied to a wider range of texts beyond Russian fairy tales

Analysis of myths and legends

• Propp's narrative functions and character archetypes have been used to analyze the structure of myths and legends from various cultures
• Scholars have found that many mythological narratives share similar patterns and elements to those identified by Propp in folktales
• The application of Propp's theory to myths and legends has helped to reveal common structures and themes across different cultural traditions

Use in comparative mythology

• Propp's work has been influential in the field of comparative mythology, which studies the similarities and differences between myths from different cultures
• By applying Propp's structural analysis to myths from various traditions, scholars have been able to identify recurring patterns and motifs that transcend cultural boundaries
• This comparative approach has helped to shed light on the universal aspects of mythological narratives and the shared human experiences they reflect

Propp's legacy in literary theory

• Propp's work on the morphology of folktales has had a lasting impact on the field of literary theory and has influenced subsequent developments in structuralism and narratology

Pioneering role in structuralism

• Propp's analysis of the underlying structure of folktales was a pioneering contribution to the structuralist approach in literary studies
• His work demonstrated the potential for studying literature as a system of interrelated elements and patterns, rather than as isolated texts
• Propp's emphasis on the underlying structure of narratives paved the way for later structuralist thinkers, such as Claude Lévi-Strauss and Roland Barthes, who applied similar principles to a wider range of cultural phenomena

Enduring impact on narrative studies

• Propp's identification of narrative functions and character archetypes has had an enduring impact on the study of narrative form and structure
• His work has inspired numerous scholars to examine the underlying patterns and elements of stories across different genres and media
• Propp's legacy can be seen in the continued interest in structural analysis and the recognition of the importance of studying the formal aspects of narratives in literary theory and criticism