Vladimir Propp

The Hero
They are often the protagonist
or a major character that the
audience associates most
strongly with. Sometimes they
are the person around which the
story is told. As well as their
‘hero’ status they may also take
on the role of victim or seeker.
 The Villain

The antagonist , they are a

contrast to the hero and usually
opposes them. Typically they are
morally bad, highlighting the
goodness of the hero and may
seek to prevent the hero from
achieving their goal
The Princess
The princess is often a ‘reward’ for the
hero or may be wooed by the false
hero. They may be seen very little in
the story perhaps only appearing at the
end or could be an integral character
who accompanies the hero on their
mission where he may win her heart
by the actions he shows throughout.
The princess may also be the object
which is deliberately sought after by
the hero perhaps finding where the
villain has taken her.
 The Princess father

The princess’s father is a key figure for the hero

to persuade, as the father is almost always
protective of his daughter. He may be the one to
dispatch the hero on his mission to save the
princess. The father may also be in competition
in some way with the hero for the princess’
affections and a triangle may form. On the other
hand, he may be villainous and lock his
daughter away; who the hero is trying to rescue
her from
 The False hero
Appears to act heroically and may even be
initially mistaken for the real hero. The character
may at first appear good but really is evil, they
will try to steal the hero’s thunder, grab all the
credit and may even try to win over the princess
 The Helper
The helper supports the hero on their
quest, they may be present throughout
the story or appear at critical moments
to provide support
 The Donor

The donor is a person who gives the

hero an object that helps them either by
empowering them or is important for
completing their quest. This role can be
combined with that of a helper
 The Dispatcher
The dispatcher is the character who send the
hero on their mission. Sometimes the dispatcher
may be the princess; father who gives the hero a
set of quests to be completed before he gains the
hand of the princess