2. Harry Potter and the Philosophers stone
Propp’s character theory
The Hero
The Villain
The Princess’s father
The Donor + Dispatcher
The Princess
False Hero
The Helper
3. Propp’s character theory
The Hero
The main protagonist within a narrative, this is the character you would back in their quest. You want this
character to do well and therefore succeed with their quest. In
Mamad is the hero within my graphic novel. This is due to the consumer backing this character because they know
he’s been wrongly accused and framed. This enables the reader to back the character in the quest before his death
and still remember him at the end, he’s the main protagonist in my story.
4. The Villain
The villain is the character type that tries to stop the hero or discourages the character from their quest for their own
personal gain. This is usually in stories where the villains motive is to get the princess’s hand in marriage.
In my narrative, James/king James is my villain. He plots to first frame Mamad for lying to the king, while plotting to
kill the king in the meantime. He tries, and succeeds, in upsetting the equilibrium and stops the hero for a personal
gain. In this case the crown of Winchester was James's goal.
5. The Princess
This character type is either a desired character or object within the narrative. This character could be the reason for a
disruption in equilibrium between the hero and the villain.
The crown of Winchester is the Princess in my novel. This is because it is a desired item to a character in the narrative,
James. Even though the hero is not after the crown, it is the closest to a Princess character type in my story.
An unconventional princess character type, due to a
narrative like mine normally having an actual princess
character as the desired item.
6. The Helper
The helper usually supports the hero in his quest. This does not need to be a physical contribution, but could
be information or knowledge instead. However, even a character backing a character in the narrative can be
considered as the helper of the story.
The noblemen is the helper in my narrative. Even if the nobleman doesn’t give any information or objects to
the hero, he still backs him and doesn't chant “burn him” in the execution part. Instead, he shows his support
for the hero, therefore, he receives the hero character type.
7. The Princesses' father
This character type sets up the quest for the hero. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the princesses’
father, just someone who lays down a quest or tasks for the hero to complete.
Unconventionally, The king is the ‘princesses’ father’ in my narrative. This is because he sets
Mamad the task of never lying again in exchange for a place in the monarchy, he also sends
Mamad to inform the Queen about making dinner.
8. The Donor
This character type traditionally gives the hero something, such as a magical power or some knowledge. This
will then help the hero complete their quest.
In my narrative, I have not emulated the conventions of the donor character type, but instead made the corrupt
nobleman the donor. I have done this because I had already planned for the twist for the hero to die, this
enabled the donor to be evil and therefore unconventional from the norm. The corrupt nobleman is the donor
because he gives James suggestions on how to get rid of the king and Mamad, while swaying the king on his
decision to execute Mamad.
9. The Dispatcher
This character usually sends the hero on their quest. This maybe a family member of the hero or could
be combined with the false hero by feeding the hero false information at the beginning of the narrative
which will send them down the wrong path or to the wrong person.
The King is a character type again, by been the dispatcher in my narrative. He receives the title of
dispatcher by sending Mamad on his quest, but doesn’t feed him wrong information.
10. The False hero
This character appears to be a good character and at the start may even be mistaken for the hero. This character could
gain the respect of many characters, including the hero's’ allies. However, the character is only pretending to be nice for
their personal gain.
As well as the title of villain, James also gets the false hero character type. He receives this grouping because he appears
to be a good loyal subject of the King, but instead is plotting to destroy the monarchy. However, like many narratives, the
false hero eventually ends up been the evident villain.
11. Propp’s narrative functions
Propp explains that every narrative has functions in them. Overall, there are 31 functions, but not every narrative has all of them in.
These are the functions that apply to my narrative, but in Propp’s words. The version that is relevant to my own graphic narrative is on
the next slide:
Reconnaissance:The Villain of the seeks something, traditionally the princesses' hand or a certain object
Delivery:
The villain gains some inside information, this could be about the object or some bad information on
the hero, this could be about the hero’s past.
First Function of the Donor:
The hero is challenged to prove they are a heroic character type
Hero’s Reaction:
Hero responds to test (this is usually met by the hero succeeding)
Guidance:
the journey
Hero reaches the destination they need to, this may lead to another (final) task or could be the end of
Return:
Hero gets ready to set back home from his journey
Pursuit:
Hero is chased from the
Rescue: Pursuit ends
Unfounded Claims:
False hero makes unfounded claims
Difficult Task:
Difficult task proposed to hero
Trickery: Villain attempts to deceive victim
12. Propp’s narrative functions that apply to my
Graphic novel
Reconnaissance – The villain seeks the King’s crown and the throne to Winchester. This is evident early on in the narrative.
Delivery – The villain gains the information that Mamad is going to be sent on a quest to the summer palace by the king, this will be
his chance to deceive Mamad.
Departure – Mamad leaves on his adventure to the Summer Palace to tell the Queen to prepare a feast.
First Function of the Donor - Mamad is challenged to prove his loyalty to the monarchy and more importantly, his promise that he
wouldn’t lie to the King.
Hero’s Reaction – Hero responds to the task by accepting the quest and going to the summer palace and tells the Queen what he
believes to be correct.
Guidance – The hero, Mamad, reaches the summer palace and tells the Queen to prepare a feast., thinking he’s in the right.
Return – Mamad sets off back to Winchester castle believing that the King will be happy with his carrying out of the quest.
Trickery – James blames Mamad for wasting food by telling the queen to prepare a feast, even though James had cancelled the
hunting trip that would have prompted the feast.
Difficult Task – Mamad must prove he is in the right, but the king has had his mind tainted by James’s lies for many years.
Unfounded Claims – James claims Mamad should be punished for his acts. He has the backing of his corrupt nobleman also.
13. Todorov - Narrative structure
A state of equilibrium
Everything is well and the day to day lives of the characters is normal.
A disruption of the equilibrium
Something bad happens and disrupts the normality of the characters everyday life, this, in the long run will change the new normal.
A recognition of a disruption
The characters recognise that there has been a change and gives some sort of indication they have noticed it.
An attempt to repair disruption
The characters attempt to fix the disruption and attempt to return to equilibrium, even if the equilibrium has changed.
A return to equilibrium
Normality is restored and the characters go back to living their normal lives. However, something may have happened within the
disruption that causes this equilibrium to be different. Traditionally, this is the case, which can be caused by death or destruction.
14. Todorov - Narrative structure (Applied)
A state of equilibrium
All is well in Winchester, the King calls upon Mamad and states he will be a key asset to the monarchy. The people of the city are
happy with the running of Winchester by the King.
A disruption of the equilibrium
Mamad is wrongly accused of lying to The King and is sentenced to death. Shortly after, James poisons the King and gets handed the
crown, the King not knowing about James’s villainous acts. The people of Winchester are in grieving over the death of the King, but
no one knows about Mamad being framed.
A recognition of a disruption
The people of Winchester soon notice that new King James is a bad ruler, due to his introduction of very high taxes and strong law
enforcement.
An attempt to repair disruption
A vigilante group of nobleman and towns people unite and create an uprising against the new King. They try to be peaceful, but King
James threatens them all. The uprising group, behead the King and share the monarchy between all residents of Winchester.
A return to equilibrium
Even though two main figures have died in the city, peace is restored and Winchester now leave in peace from dictators. The shared
monarchy is a success and it is kept permanently by the city.
15. Claude Levi Strauss – Binary Opposition
The French theorist came up with the idea that a story cannot exist without two opposing sides. Strauss then explains, the conflict of
these two sides is what drives the narrative forward.
Some examples of this includes:
Good Vs Evil (Most common)
Men Vs Women (Used in modern stories, now equality has become more understood)
Young Vs Old
Police Vs Criminals
Humans Vs Aliens
Vs
Goo
d
Vs
Bad
Aliens
Humans
16. Claude Levi Strauss – Binary Opposition (applied)
Good vs. Evil
This is the main binary opposite within my narrative. The opposite is quickly evident in the novel, within the first 3 pages. It depicts
James and a corrupt nobleman discussing how to get rid of Mamad, the good character in my narrative who never lies. James also
plots to get rid of the King, this enigma and battle of binary opposites drives the story forward and makes the consumer want to
continue.
Good
Bad
One of the kings noblemen, James was becoming tired of been out of the limelight. He decided
to plot how to get rid of Mamad
Mamad promises he has never lied and won’t lie in the future. The king sees the man as a key
asset.
Too messy, we
won’t harm
him…. for now
Beat
him?
We need
to get rid
of him
Mamad
this,
Mamad
that
That is true
my king
Is it true you
never lie? And
you won’t in
the future?
Vs.
Mur
der?
You will be a
key asset to
the monarchy
