Propp's Theory

Vladimir Propp was a folklorist researcher interested in the relationship between characters and narrative. Stories are character driven. Plots develop from the decisions and actions of characters. Characters could be classified into certain roles that progress a story.

- The villain: Struggles to stop the hero in their quest

- The false hero: a character than initially appears as good but turns out to be evil

- The donor: prepares the hero for their quest

- The helper: offers help to the hero in their quest, this is usually a sidekick

- The princess: person the hero marries, and who is often searched for during the quest

- The dispatcher: the person that sends the hero on their quest

- The hero: the person on the quest through which the audience follow the narrative

Non-fiction:

Newspapers which often portray politicians as villains if their decisions or policies aren't popular with the public. When someone has done a good deed for charity or helped in a daring rescue, newspapers often portray them as heroes.

Time and Space:

Manipulating or playing with time and space can be used when constructing a narrative. Used in the narrative of time travel or science fiction programmes. Detective dramas often use flashback scenes.

Multi-stranded:

The narrative structure does not always follow one storyline. Audience will be aware of character histories. Cliffhangers to encourage audience loyalty.

Three strand narrative:

- Three different strands at the start of an episode and then interweaving them as the episode progresses.

- One of these strands will be a continuing strand from previous episodes

- One will be a narrative strand specific to the episode

- Third strand will usually involve characters in a situation outside

- Casual viewer will be entertained by the narrative strand specific

- Regular viewer will be interested in the evolving narrative strand which will continue

Split screen narrative:

- Screen is split into a number of sections with mini narratives going on in each section

Flexi-narrative:

- Most complex

- Challenges audiences and keeps them curious about how the many narratives will develop

- Complex characters that are ambiguous which creates tension and mystery