1. VLADIMIR PROPP (1895-1970)
Propp was a Bulgarian theorist. In his 1922 work The Morphology of the Folk Tale he
analysed something like 400 Russian folk tales. He found that across all of these
tales, despite apparent differences, characters and their actions can be categorized
into clearly defined roles and functions (8 character roles and 31 narrative functions)
which are summarized here:
The hero: seeks something, to fulfill a ʻlackʼ of some kind
The villain: opposed the hero, tries to make the hero fail
The donor: aids the hero by providing an object with magical properties
The dispatcher: sends the hero on a quest of some kind
The false hero: pretends to be the hero
The helper: assists the hero in some way
The princess: doubles up as a reward for the hero and the object of the villainʼs
plot
Her father: will reward the hero (often by giving the hero his daughter)
DARK KNIGHT RISES
(which character fulfils this role and why?)
Hero Batman/Bruce Wayne – He saves the city from destruction and
darkness, he starts off without a purpose. But he finds a reason
to fight, which was something that he was lacking in.
Villain Bane – He wants to overtake and rule Gotham city and he sees
it as being corrupt.
Donor Lucius Fox – He gives Bruce Wayne the technology to become
the Batman again, which also gives Bruce Wayne
encouragement which he needs
Dispatcher Selina Kyle – She steals from Bruce Wayne which gives him a
motive to become Batman again.
False hero Miranda Tate – She pretends to be helping everyone out and try
to help the unfortunate but she’s behind it all.

2. Helper John Blake – He helps Batman by freeing some cops which were
trapped underground to assist Batman
Salina Kyle – She becomes Catwomen in order to assist Batman
and leader him to Bane and kills him at the end to help even
more
Princess Miranda Tate – Bruce Wayne was at first after Miranda Tate and
tries to save her at the end only to be betrayed.
Selina Kyle – She ends up being the reward for Bruce Wayne as
they get together at the end, giving them both a chance to start a
new life.
Father Raʼs al Ghul – He sort of helps Bruce Wayne become Batman
again as he appears to him in a vision and tells him he no longer
has the resolve to be Batman.
PROPP NARRATIVE FUNCTION
These functions should not be seen just as events, actions or characters in themselves, but as
elements in a narrative which can occur at different places. The same action can have a different
meaning depending on where it occurs.
A community (a
kingdom, family, etc.) in
a state of order
Gotham city is safe from crime.
A member of the family
leaves home
Alfred leaves Bruce.
A prohibition/rule is
imposed on the hero
Batman is wanted by police.
A prohibition / rule is
ignores or broken
Batman returns and is chased by cops.
The villain makes an
attempt at
reconnaissance; tries to
find something out
about the hero
Selina Kyle steals Bruce Wayne’s fingerprints.
The villain learns
something about his
victim
Bane discovers that Dent was corrupt and that Batman is
the hero.

3. The villain tries to
deceive the victim to
gain an advantage
Miranda Tate becomes a love interest for Bruce.
The victim is deceived
and unknowingly helps
the villain
Tate tricks Bruce into building the power core so that it
may become a bomb.
The state of order is
disrupted
Selina Kyle steals finger prints from Bruce
Bane kidnaps nuclear physicist.
The villain harms a
member of the family
Daggert gets finger prints
Gordon is hospitalized
A member of the family
lacks or desires
something
Alfred wants Bruce to give up on fighting crime and leave
This lack is made
known to the hero who
is sent on a quest
Bruce is told about Rachel’s letter.
The hero plans action
against the villain
Batman looks into what Bane is doing and his past.
The hero leaves home Bruce Wayne gets sent to prison
The hero is tested,
attacked, interrogated:
the hero receives help
Batman is defeated by Bane and must recover in prison.
The hero reacts to the
donor
Bruce Wayne learns from the prison doctor to fear death
and not welcome it.
The hero is transferred
to the location where
he will fulfill his quest /
task
Bruce escapes prison and goes back to Gotham to face
off against Bane again who is currently ruling Gotham
There is a struggle
between the hero and
the villain
Batman and Bane fight for Gotham.
The hero is branded Bruce Wayne is recognized as the hero, lighting up the bat
signal.
The villain is defeated Bane is defeated, shot in the chest by Selina Kyle.
The initial state of order
is restored / the lack
fulfilled
Banes plan fails and Gotham is peaceful again. Bruce
Wayne finds a reason to live by starting a new life with
Selina Kyle.
The hero returns Bruce returns to Gotham.
The hero is pursued The police chase Batman after the stock exchange.

4. The hero escapes / is
rescued
Batman escapes the prison.
The hero arrives home
or some other place: he
is not recognized
In the prison the convicts don’t know that he is Batman.
A false hero makes a
false claim
Bane claims he is liberating the city in the stadium.
The hero is given a
difficult task
Bruce climbing out the prison.
The task is
accomplished
He manages to escape the prison after a few attempts
The hero is recognized Batman saves Gotham.
The false hero / villain is
exposed
Miranda Tate stabs Batman and shows that she is the true
villain (false hero)
The false hero / villain
transforms
Selina Kyle becomes hero saving Batman.
Bane’s motive is shown which is love.
The false hero / villain is
punished
Miranda Tate is killed
The hero is rewarded
(marries the princess
and is granted
wealth/power)
Bruce starts a new life with Selina Kyle.