Vladimir Propp

Presentation by Sandy, Odette, Louis, Vincent

 Introductory
• Vladimir Propp
• Propp’s Character Theory in modern
film

- Morphology of the folktale (1928)

- Prize/ Princess Role

• Character Theory

• Conclusion
- in relation to La Belle et la Bete?

- comparison between the 1991 and

1946 films
 Vladimir Propp
• Vladimir Yakovlevich Propp was born in April 29, 1895 to
a German family and died in August 22, 1970. He was
a Soviet folklorist and scholar who analysed the
basic plot components of Russian folk tales to identify
their simplest irreducible narrative elements.
• He majored in Russian and German philology and upon
graduation he taught Russian and German at a secondary
school. Then, he became a college teacher in German.
• In 1932, Propp became a member of Leningrad
University faculty. After 1938, he chaired the
Department of Folklore until it became part of the
Image 1
Department of Russian Literature. Propp remained a
faculty member until his death in 1970.
Morphology of the folktale (1928) “Five categories of elements
define not only the construction
of a tale, but the tale as a
• Propp analysed many of his country's folk tales and whole.”
identified common themes within them. He broke down
the stories into morphemes (analysable chunks) and 1. Functions of dramatis persona
2. Conjunctive elements
identified 31 narrative units that comprised the structure 3. Motivations
of many of the stories. 4.Forms of appearance of dramatis
• He has been both lauded for his structural approach and persona
criticized for his lack of sensitivity to subtle story 5. Attributive elements or accessories
elements such as mood and deeper context.
Nevertheless, his analysis provides a useful tool in
understanding ancient and modern stories and has
become a classic folklore and structuralist analysis.

Image 2 Image 3
 Character Theory “The princess and the father
cannot be clearly
Propp suggested that every narrative has eight different character types, distinguished.”
these character types are:
1. The villain - who fights the hero in some way.
2. The dispatcher - the character who makes the villain’s evil known and
sends the hero off.
3. The (magical) helper - who helps the hero in the quest.
4. The princess or prize - the hero deserves her throughout the story but
is unable to marry her because of an unfair evil, usually because of the
villain.
Image 4
5. Her father - who gives the task to the hero and identifies the false
hero
6. The donor - who prepares the hero or gives him some magical object.
7. The hero or victim/seeker hero - who reacts to the donor and weds
the princess.
8. False hero - who takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry
the princess.
The hero’s journey is often ended when he marries the princess, thereby
beating the villain and resulting in a “happily ever after” moment. Image 5
 Character
Theory
“In 1928, Propp said that all stories
follow a narrative structure. To show
his theory he broke down fairy tales
into sections, and these sections
reveal a sequence of narratives
which nearly all films follow to this
day.” (Sampson, 2015) 

Fig 1, La Belle et la Bête, (1946)

 “Vladamir Propp says that
Hero: Belle characters take up the role of
narrative “spheres of action”
“The basic function of the hero is to go on a quest and they do he identifies seven different
this because they feel they are lacking something in their lives” (Fordor, 2015) characters necessary to make
up a narrative” (Hedger, 2014) 

Princess: The Beast Fig 2, La Belle Et la Bete,

(1946)
“the princess isn’t always a woman and in fact the
princess isn’t always human” (Fordor, 2015)
Fig 3, La Belle et la bête Bande-annonce, (2013)

Helper: Magnificent

Dispatcher: Belle’s father

“difficult to identify as they are often combined with other
characters in the film” (Fordor, 2015) Fig 4, la Bella e la Bestia, (1946)

Fig 5, La Belle et la Bete,

(2014)
Villain(s): Adelaide and Felicie
“They either want the opposite of what the hero wants..or they
want the princess for themselves.” (Fordor, 2015)

Donor: The Beast

False Hero: Avenant Fig 7, Jean Marais in

Beauty and the Beast, Fig 6, La Belle Et la
(1946) Bete, (2014)
What Is Character Theory in relation to
La Belle et la Bete?
“Now the thing about these character types is that in some films one person may be more
than one at a time, so the villain can be the princess and the dispatcher all at once. All of
Propp’s character archetypes can be up for debate but part of the fun is seeing how different
people interpret these things.” (Fordor, 2015)

So when researching Propp’s character theory, I found that the

traditional categories for the character's didn’t match up in La
Belle et la Bete
Such as the beasts growth in the story and his death being the
drive for the third act for the film and the driving conflict for
Belle, whom takes the role as the Hero, as its her quest, her
choice that carries the tale, a role that is usually reserved for
strong, male characters.
The role of the Donor is also reserved for the Beast, as he
provides Belle with the tools she needs to complete her quest.
Magnificent the horse, although also fitting into the role of a
tool for Belle given by the beast, can also be seen as a Helper,
as its him that carries Belle and Avenant to the castle. He’s the
closest the film has to a side character.
 On the other hand…
• The role of Helper can be seen to not appear in the film, as
Magnificent can be viewed as a tool given by the beast,
therefore not serving Belle out of his won free will.
• False Hero also because Avenant can be seen as not playing as
much of a significant heroic conflict in the film, he never
contrats Belles status as the hero, but more challenges the
beasts masculinity in the film and adding conflict to Belles
decision.
• The usage of the character theory can be subjective.
Hero: Beast
“The basic function of the hero is to go on a quest and they do
this because they feel they are lacking something in their lives” (Fordor, 2015)

Princess: Belle
“the princess isn’t always a woman and in fact the
princess isn’t always human” (Fordor, 2015)

Helper: None Fig 3, La Belle et la bête

Bande-annonce, (2013)

Dispatcher: None Fig 4, La Belle Et la Bete,

(1946)

Villain: Avenant
“They either want the opposite of what the hero wants..or they
want the princess for themselves.” (Fordor, 2015)

Fig 7, Jean Marais in

Donor: The Beast Beauty and the Beast,
(1946)

False Hero: None

 “She actively resists any other characters’ attempts

The Hero to take that control away from her: when both
Gaston and the Beast try to force her to do
something she doesn’t want to do, she won’t have
any of it.” (J. Stuff)

Figure 1. Belle (1946) Figure 2. Belle (1993)

 Belle – The Hero
• In the Disney Adaption Belle is a lot more independent and not a slave
to her sister like in the 1946 version.
• Instead of being tied down by her father she reads and has aspirations
for more than just being a wife and townsperson.
• In both films she goes in her fathers place my choice and is reluctant
to befriend the beast at first.
• She follows the Propps character theory as she is the main protagonist
we follow in the story she also can be labelled as other forms under
the hero banner:
• Victim – as she captured by the beast and held captive
• Seeker – As she is seeking more than her provincial life
 The Princess/ The Donor

Figure 13. The Beast (1946) Figure 14. The Beast (1993)
The Beast – The Princess/ The Donor
• Although Belle ends up the princess of the story the Beast fits the
architype of Propps character theory.
• In both films The Beast is Belle’s captor who at first seems bad but you
discover is good inside.
• The role in of the Beast in the Disney adaption doesn’t act as forward
and is more reluctant to get to know Belle.
• The Beast is the complete contrast to Belle as he is the one that fits
the idea of needing to be rescued by the villagers and he is the one
that the danger is attached to. The Beast could also be seen as the
reward that is won at the end.
• He could also be seen as the donor as he gives Belle a room and the
library as well as the mirror, which acts as a magical object in the
quest.
 The Helper

Figure 3. Magnificent (1946) Figure 4. Lumiere and Cogsworth(1993)

Lumiere & Cogsworth - The Helper
• Magnificent the is the closest thing to the The Helper in ’La
Belle er la Bete’.
• The role of Magnificent is replaced by Philippe the horse, who
provides a similar means of transport and help as Magnificent.
• However The Helper role in the Disney adaption more closely
fits Lumiere and Cogsworth as they are the side characters that
aid Belle as well as the Beast.
• They fit the helper banner as they provide help on Belles quest
and the Beast to some extent, they act as friends that support
the hero, the same could be said for Mrs. Potts and the other
enchanted furniture.
 The Villain

Figure 5. Belles Sisters (1946)

Figure 6. The Towns People(1993)
 The Villager – The Villian
• Even though Gaston may appear the main villain in the Disney
adaption he fits more into the role of being the false hero.
• The main villain in both films are the ones that contrast Belle’s
longing for something more and contrast her selfless nature.
• The role of Belle’s sisters is very similar to that of the village who
contrast with Belle’s views and look down on her, they are greedy
and display the masses.
• The villagers fit the role as they directly contrast with Belle’s
goals in the begin for being different and towards the end for
their aim to kill the Beast and the way they are morally bad, they
also shed the light on Belle’s inner light through her empathy of
the Beast.
 “Sometime in my mid teen years, my generation became obsessed
with the idea of the ‘sympathetic villain’. Suddenly it was no longer
False Hero acceptable to have a bad guy be evil without explanation. Villains
needed depth, backgrounds, motivation, and a reason for being the
villain beyond ‘they’re evil’.” (R.Sam)

Figure 7. Avenant (1946) Figure 8. Gaston (1993)

 Gaston – The False Hero

• Gaston fits better as the False Hero as at first he seems like a

potential love interest to Belle, but turns out to be ignorant
and obsessed with Belle willing to get her at all costs.
• Avenant is the parallel to Gaston, he appears to be a love
interest to Belle but isn’t the hero you believe him to be.
• He fits the role of The False hero as he parallels the Beast and
tries to kill him and take Belle and he isn’t the hero that he
first appears to be.
 The Dispatcher

Figure 11. Belle’s Father (1946) Figure 12. Maurice (1993)

 Maurice -The Dispatcher
• The role of the dispatcher is basically the same in both films.
• The role of Belle’s father and Maurice are the characters that
set the quest. This role can also be The Princesses father.
• In the case of these films he is used as the reason for Belle
being in the castle as he is the one that gets trapped there,
and who Belle trades places with
• He could also be classified as the princess as he is the person
that must be saved.
“Even though it is unfaithful, it gives us a pleasing movie that makes sense,
reinforces the important message, and can be enjoyed by kids and adults.  No
wonder it is so highly regarded and loved by everyone.”
(Knight, 2017)

In comparison to both the films Vladimir Propps character

theories still hold up even when adapting the film to a
different audience. The characters remain true to this
classic theory even though some of the roles don’t line up
completely.
Propp’s Character Theory in modern film

• movies still depending on his character theory (the heroes, the villains, the sidekicks
and the princess)

• audience will immediately recognize the character’s purpose in the story

• allowing the plot and characters to develop with more freedom

• Propp’s theory applies not only to the traditional fairy tails

 Harry Potter
• The Villain: Voldemort

• The Dispatcher: Dumbledore

• The Helper: Ron and Hermione

• The Princess (or Prize): Ginny Weasley

• The Donor: Hagrid

• The Hero: Harry Potter

• False Hero: Draco Malfoy

Fig - Harry Potter Characters
 Propp’s Character
Theory in modern film
“Emphasising how glued
filmmakers are to Propp’s
ideology, and how harmful it can
be to the viewers, transmitting
an idea which tells women that
they are to be prizes, highly
sexualised and extremely
attractive, and then on the other
scale, these movies and series
are suggesting to men that they
have to be fighters and dominant
figures.“ (Sampson, 2015)

Fig 1, La Belle et la Bête, (2014)

 Prize/ Princess Role
• woman presented as a prize/ reward for the
“Film theorist have drawn attention to the
hero

way in which the cinema chose the

• the only gendered character type
excitement of other kinds of modern
movement, the movement of train travel or
• Laura Mulvey’s Male Gaze
the movement of visualized suspense, for
instance, enhanced by the movement of the
• Reflection of the stories at the time and the camera and of editing. But the discourse of
Male Gaze has being evident in film long before sexuality develops its own rhetoric of stasis,
Propp’s theory
holding back the excitement of movement
into a moment of eroticised visual pleasure.“

• today just “Prize“ is a more accurate description

of the role which doesn’t rely on gender

(Fetishism and Curiosity - Mulvey, 1996)

• modern filmmakers updated his roles to reflect

changing attitudes in society
 The Hunger Games
• gender reversal of the Princess character

• The Hero: Katniss Everdeen

• The Princess (or Prize): Peeta Mellark

Fig 2 - Katniss Everdeen

• “Peeta Mellark’s character is so vulnerable

and dependent on the hero that if he was a
female character he would be rightly criticised
as a damsel in distress“ (Sampson, 2015)

• Interstellar, Wonder Woman, Frozen

Fig 3 - Peeta Mellark
 Conclusion
• His book Morphology for the folk tale and its theories can be applied to different
media, inspired many modern folk writers.

• The character theory for La Belle Et La Bete can be applied in different ways
depending on what point of view you see the theory.

• In Propp’s Character Theory women are presented as a prize/ reward for the hero. This
is a problem with fairy tales, but it doesn’t have to be a problem with cinema
 Illustrative Bibliography
• Title Image - https://goo.gl/images/PCkXWy
• Image 1: (Mollynewmana2media.files.wordpress.com, 2018)
• Image 2: (Images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com, 2018)
• Image 3: (2.bp.blogspot.com, 2018)
• Image 4: (2.bp.blogspot.com, 2018)
• Image 5: (Gannett-cdn.com, 2018)
• Fig 1, La Belle et la Bête, (1946), [Online Image], AT: http://www.ec-buisson-montesson.ac-versailles.fr/spip.php?article38, (Accessed: 11/10/18)
• Fig 2, La Belle Et la Bete, (1946), [Online Image], AT: https://hr19screensnapshots.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/la-belle-et-la-bete-1946/, (Accessed: 11/10/18)
• Fig 3, La Belle et la bête Bande-annonce, (2013), [Online Image], AT: http://www.allocine.fr/video/player_gen_cmedia=19537834&cfilm=772.html, (Accessed: 11/10/18)
• Fig 4, la Bella e la Bestia, (1946), [Online Image], AT: http://caravalina.blogspot.com/2010/06/la-bella-e-la-bestia.html, (Accessed: 11/10/18)
• Fig 5, La Belle et la Bete, (2014), [Online image], AT: https://www.narcisse-et-les-dessins-animes.com/divers/film-la-belle-et-la-bête-1946/, (Accessed: 11/10/18)
• Fig 6, La Belle et la Bete, (2014), [Online image], AT: https://www.narcisse-et-les-dessins-animes.com/divers/film-la-belle-et-la-bête-1946/, (Accessed: 11/10/18)
• Fig 7, Jean Marais in Beauty and the Beast, (1946), [Online Image], AT: http://actoroscar.blogspot.com/2014/11/alternate-best-actor-1946-jean-marais.html, (Accessed 11/10/18)
• http://www.tweb.club/jean-cocteau-beauty-and-the-beast.html
• http://disneyheroines.wikia.com/wiki/Belle
• https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/227924431125165441/
• https://geektyrant.com/news/first-look-at-lumiere-cogsworth-le-fou-and-gaston-in-disneys-live-action-beauty-and-the-beast
• http://rhiannaslack.blogspot.com/2013/11/film-review-la-belle-et-la-bete-1946.html
• http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Villagers_(Beauty_and_the_Beast)
• https://aminoapps.com/c/movies-tv/page/blog/la-belle-et-la-bete-1946/4LcY_uJ0vG56GJBewbL1EBQwLlJx5a
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• http://parody.wikia.com/wiki/Inside_Out_(Jean-Claude_Jnr_Charles_Schwartz_Style)
• Figure 1 (La Belle et la Bête, (2014)) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2316801/
• Figure 2 (Harry Potter) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Harry_Potter_characters
• Figure 3 (Peeta) - http://lbc9.net/movies-and-tv/movie/hunger-games-catching-fire/wallpapers-15.html
• Figure 4 (Katniss) - http://worlds-divided.wikia.com/wiki/File:Katniss-everdeen-the-hunger-games-catching-fire-24806-1920x1080.jpg
 Harvard List
• Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5RyV-s0yhU

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