Stories and their unique elements: An approach to story structure by Vladimir Propp

In this article we look at Morphology of the Folktale, by outlining the thirty-one functions that were  proposed by Vladimir Propp for the structural analysis of folktales.

Vladimir Propp (1895-1970) analysed many of Russian fairy tales in order to identify common themes within them. He broke down the fairy tales into thirty-one “functions” that comprised the structure of many of the fairy tales. His study was published as Morphology of the Folktale in 1928

After the publication of Morphology, folklorists around the world realised that there is a unique element to all stories in the sense that they can be replicated. Same or similar stories, with identifiable plots, characters and situation can be found in many parts of the world. Propp’s assertion that hundreds of fairy tales can be reduced to a single structure has made many theorists to accept his hypothesis.

The thirty one-function of V. Propp discussed with an example, story in consideration is ‘RUMPELSTILTSKIN’, a fairytale popularly associated with Germany (Where he is known as Rumpelstilzchen). The tale was collected by the Brothers Grimm in 1812 edition of ‘Children’s and Household Tales’.

 

Number	Designation	Definition	Example
1	Β	Absentation	One of the members of a family absents himself
			from home.
2	Γ	Interdiction	An interdiction is addressed to the hero.
			King orders the Miller’s daughter to spun gold from the hay else she will die.
3	Δ	Violation	The interdiction is violated. She has no idea how to spun gold from hay(Leading to the entry of Villain)
4	Ε	Reconnaissance	The villain makes an attempt at reconnaissance.
			Rumpelstiltskin asks why you cry fair maiden.
5	Ζ	Delivery	The villain receives information about his
			Victim. The Miller daughter said “I will die unless I find a way to spin all the straw into gold”
6	Η	Trickery	The villain attempts to deceive his victim in
			order to take possession of him or of is
			Belongings. Rumpelstiltskin “May be I can help you” what will you give me if I spin gold for you?
7	Θ	Complicity	Victim submits to deception and thereby
			unwittingly helps his enemy. Millers daughter: I have nothing left to give you. Rumpelstiltskin: Promise me that you will give me your first born child and I will spin all this straw into the gold. Millers daughter: Relunctly agreed to give the tiny man what he wanted she had no choice.
8	A	Villainy	The villain causes harm or injury to a member of a family
			Rumpelstiltskin reappears “ I have come for your first born, your son”, he said with a wicked grin.
8A	A	Lack	A member of a family lacks something or
			desires to have something.
9	B	Meditation	Misfortune or lack is made known; the hero is
			approached with a request or command; he is
			allowed to go or he is dispatched. “If you can guess my name in 03 days you can keep your child”
10	C	Beginning	The hero agrees to or decides upon
		counteraction	counteraction. Queen (Millers Daughter) sends out messengers to find all the possible names they can gather from every corner of the country
11	↑	Departure	The hero leaves home.
12	D	First function	The hero is tested, interrogated, attacked etc.,
		of the Donor	which prepares the way for his receiving either a
			magical agent or a helper.

 

 

 

13	E	The hero’s	The hero reacts to the actions of the future
		reaction	Donor.
14	F	Provision of a	The hero acquires the use of a magical agent.
		magical agent
15	G	Guidance	Hero is led to the whereabouts of an object of
			Search
			Late Last night I saw something strange. A tiny man was dancing and chanting “ The child is mine. I’ve won the game. Since Rumpelstiltskin is my name”
16	H	Struggle	The hero and the villain join in direct combat
			“Is your name sheepshanks, spindleshanks…. Wrong! Cried the little man gleefully
17	I	Branding	The hero is branded
18	J	Victory	The villain is defeated Could your name be Rumpelstiltskin. The little man turn purple with rage
19	K	Liquidation of	The initial misfortune or lack is liquidated
		Lack
20	↓	Return	The hero returns.
21	Pr	Pursuit	The hero is pursued
22	Rs	Rescue	Rescue of the hero from pursuit
23	O	Unrecognized	Unrecognized, he arrives home or in another
		arrival	country
24	L	Unfounded	A false hero presents unfounded claims
		claims
25	M	Difficult task	A difficult task is proposed to the hero
26	N	Solution	The task is resolved
27	Q	Recognised	The hero is recognised.
28	Ex	Exposure	The false hero or villain is exposed
29	T	Transfiguration	The hero is given a new appearance
30	U	Punishment	The villain is punished Rumpelstiltskin remained in that same place frozen forever in rage.
31	W	Wedding	The hero is married and ascends the throne

 

According to Propp (1968): In order to create a tale artificially, one may take any A, then one of the possible B’s then a C↑, followed by absolutely any D, then an E, the one of the possible F’s, then any G, and so on. In doing this, any elements may be dropped, or repeated three times, or repeated in various forms. If one, then distributes functions according to the dramatis personae of the tale’s supply of by following one’s own taste, these schemes come alive and become tales. Of course, one must also keep motivations, connections, and other auxiliary elements in mind”

 

References: Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities (ISSN 0975-2935), Vol. IX, No. 2, 2017

                    Excerpts from: Vladimir Propp: Morphology of the folk tale 1928 Translation 1968, The American Folklore Society and Indiana University