Vladimir Propp is a Russian Theorist who developed a theory know as the character theory. He did this whilst studying media texts and productions. The character theory has eight main areas or character types. He found this from the hundreds of tales which he continuously analysed. The eight character types are:
I will use reference from the fairy tales of the Shrek sequel films, Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek The Third and Shrek Forever After.
The Helper
The helper is a character who helps a character throughout his quest or sidekick. For example in the film Shrek, his helper or sidekick is Donkey. They are characters who see the best in the person they are helping and always support them and back them up.
The Villain
The villain is the arch enemy of the hero. The villain will always end up second best to the hero and tends to always struggle to them before hand. The villain's motive is always controlled by money or power. The villain in the first Shrek film was a character know as Lord Farquaad who is a character after perfection and power.
A Princess
A princess in these tales is the number one prize. The hero tends to have to rescue the princess and at the end of the story the hero will marry the princess. In this case for Shrek Princess Fiona, she is the typical princess character, locked away in a tower waiting to be rescued by her prince.
A princess in these tales is the number one prize. The hero tends to have to rescue the princess and at the end of the story the hero will marry the princess. In this case for Shrek Princess Fiona, she is the typical princess character, locked away in a tower waiting to be rescued by her prince.
Princess' Father
The princess' father is a character who is already dead before the film or dies during the film. In Shrek the Third Princess Fiona's Father dies from a sickness.
The princess' father is a character who is already dead before the film or dies during the film. In Shrek the Third Princess Fiona's Father dies from a sickness.
The Donor
A donor is a character who gives the hero something to help them on their quest. This can be anything from a weapon or magical object. An example of a donor in the Shrek films is a character called Merlin. He is a wizard who transports Shrek, Donkey and Puss to Far Far Away.
A donor is a character who gives the hero something to help them on their quest. This can be anything from a weapon or magical object. An example of a donor in the Shrek films is a character called Merlin. He is a wizard who transports Shrek, Donkey and Puss to Far Far Away.
Hero
The hero is the main character in fairy tales. They are the main focus of the film/book and they are usually having a running battle with the villain. The hero always weds the princess. An example of a hero is Shrek himself. He originally rescues Princess Fiona from the tower and then later on in the film he marries her.
The hero is the main character in fairy tales. They are the main focus of the film/book and they are usually having a running battle with the villain. The hero always weds the princess. An example of a hero is Shrek himself. He originally rescues Princess Fiona from the tower and then later on in the film he marries her.
The Dispatcher
The dispatcher is the character who makes the story known to the hero and sends them off onto their quest against the villain.
False Hero
The dispatcher is the character who makes the story known to the hero and sends them off onto their quest against the villain.
False Hero
Every film has its false hero. They are a character who takes credit for something that the actual hero has done. The false hero in the Shrek film sequel is Prince Charming. He is a character who tries to take credit for something Shrek had done in the 2nd film by pretending he was him. He wants it the easy way, he does not work or earn for what he deserves.
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