MORPHOLOGY OF THE FOLKTALE

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MORPHOLOGY OF THE FOLKTALE

• VLADIMIR PROPP
• By Ema Ramot

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MORPHOLOGY

• is a description of the tale according to its
  component parts and the relationship of these
  components to each other and to the whole

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LINEAR SEQUENTIAL STRUCTURE

• Follows the cronological order of the linear
  sequence of elements in the text as reported from
  an informant.

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FUNCTIONS OF DRAMATIS PERSONAE

• Limited 31 functions
• A large number arranged in pairs (prohibition
  violation)
• In groups (villainy dispatch decision for
  counteraction departure)
• Individual (absentation, punishment, marriage)

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1. ABSENTATION

• One of the members of a family absents himself
  from home
• (goes on a distant journey, visiting, fishing,
  for a walk)

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2. INTERDICTION

• A prohibition is addressed to the hero
• (you dare not look into the closet)

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3. VIOLATION OF INTERDICTION

• The prohibition is violated
• a new personage enters the tale the villain (a
  dragon, a witch)

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4. RECONNAISSANCE

• It has the aim of finding out the location of
  children, precious objects.....

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5. DELIVERY

• The villain receives information about his victim
  (directly receives an answer, a dialogue between
  the stepmother and the mirror)

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TRICKERY

• The villain attempts to deceive the victim in
  order to take possession of him or his belongings
  (the villain assumes a disguise, uses persuasion,
  applies magical means.....)

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7. COMPLICITY

• The victim submits to deception and unwittingly
  helps his enemy
• (interdictions are always broken and deceitful
  proposals are always accepted and fulfilled)

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8. VILLAINY

• Complication is begun
• The villain causes harm or injury to a member of
  a family (abducts a person, takes away a magical
  agent, spoils the crops, causes bodily harm,
  causes a sudden disappearance, casts a spell.....)

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8.a LACK

• One member of a family either lacks something or
  desires to have something (wondrous objects,
  bride.....)

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9. MEDIATION, THE CONNECTIVE INCIDENT

• Misfortune or lack is made known, the hero is
  approached with a request, he is allowed to go or
  is dispatched

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10. BEGINNING COUNTERACTION

• The seeker agrees to or decides upon counteraction

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11. DEPARTURE

• The hero leaves home
• A new character enters the tale THE DONOR or
  THE PROVIDER (usually encountered accidentally)
• The seeker hero or the victim hero obtains some
  agent (usually magical) which permits the
  eventual liquidation of misfortune.

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12. THE FIRST FUNCTION OF THE DONOR

• The hero is tested, which prepares for his
  receiving a magical agent or a helper

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13. THE HEROS REACTION

• The hero reacts to the actions of the future donor

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14. PROVISION OR RECEIPT OF A MAGICAL AGENT

• The hero acquires the use of magical agent

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15. SPATIAL TRANSFERENCE BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS,
GUIDANCE

• The hero is transferred, delivered or led to the
  whereabouts of an object of search

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16. STRUGGLE

• The hero and the villain join in direct combat

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17. BRANDING, MARKING

• The hero is branded (receives a wound, a princess
  brands the hero on the forehead with a signet
  ring.....)

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18. VICTORY

• The villain is defeated

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19. LIQUIDATION

• The initial misfortune or lack is liquidated
• The narrative receives its peak

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20. RETURN

• The hero returns

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21. PURSUIT, CHASE

• The hero is pursued

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22. RESCUE

• The hero is rescued
• Many tales end on the note of rescue from pursuit
  or there is another misfortune etc.

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23. UNRECOGNIZED ARRIVAL

• The hero, unrecognized, arrives home or in
  another country

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24. UNFOUNDED CLAIMS

• A false hero presents unfounded claims.

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25. DIFFICULT TASK

• A difficult task is proposed to the hero.

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26. SOLUTION

• The task is resolved

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27. ROCOGNITION

• The hero is recognized.

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28. EXPOSURE

• The false hero or villain is exposed.

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29. TRANSFIGURATION

• The hero is given a new appearance.

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30. PUNISHMENT

• The villain is punished.

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31. WEDDING

• The hero is married/ascends the throne.