Todorov & Propp Transformations

Todorov

Tzvetan Todorov is a Bulgarian-French historian, philosopher, literary critic, sociologist and essayist. He is the author of many books and essays, which have a significant influence in anthropology, sociology, semiotics, literary theory, thought history and culture theory.

Todorov suggested that conventional narratives are structured in five stages:

• A state of equilibrium (stability) at the start
• A disruption of the equilibrium by some action
• A recognition that there has been a disruption
• An attempt to repair the disruption
• A reinstatement of the equilibrium

This type of narrative structure is very familiar to us and can be applied to many ‘mainstream’ film narratives.



Propp

Vladimir Yakovlevich Propp (1895 – 1970) was a Soviet folklorist and scholar who analyzed the basic plot components of Russian folk tales to identify their simplest irreducible narrative elements.

Propp suggested that all characters could be resolved into seven character functions:

1. The Villain — Struggles against the hero.
2. The Dispatcher — Character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.
3. The (magical) Helper — Helps the hero in their quest.
4. The Princess or Prize and her father — The hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her because of an unfair evil, usually because of the villain. The hero's journey is often ended when he marries the princess, thereby beating the villain.
5. The Donor — prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.
6. The Hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.
7. The False Hero — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.

Todorov Transformations

We take the movie Toy Story (1995) for example. Todorov's theory fits quite well with Toy Story's general plot:


A state of equilibrium (stability) at the start.
Woody is the leader of toys and all is well.

A disruption of the equilibrium by some action
The arrival of Buzz Lightyear and the Woody's reactions, and the groups new 
A recognition that there has been a disruption
Main antagonist Sid attempting to destroy the toys with a mail ordered rocket dubbed 'The Big One'.
An attempt to repair the disruption
Woody and Buzz try to escape and reunite with Andy.
A reinstatement of the equilibrium
Woody and the toys have Christmas in Andy’s new home.

                         Sid, main antagonist & toy abuser.

Propp Transformations

We take the movie The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) for example:


Hero:

The main hero is Frodo, while the secondary hero is Aragon.

Mentor: 

The Fellowship is Frodo’s mentor.

Threshold (Guardian): 

Gollum and Saruman are the main guardians, the minor villains of the story that test the hero.

Herald: 

Gandalf is the herald, the character that urges the hero to begin his quest to destroy the ring.

Shape-Shifter: 

Aragon by the end of the movie transitions from a ranger to the king of the realm.

Shadow: 

The forces of Sauron and Saruman. The shadow can also be the temptation of the ring on Frodo’s conscience and sanity. Furthermore as Frodo approaches Mount Doom the ring’s corruptive influence mentally weakens Frodo considerably.

Trickster: 

Frodo’s cousins Merry and Pippin can be considered tricksters. Their characters presence in the storyline has minimum impact on the outcome of the events of the story; they are present mainly for comic relief. The same can be said of the dwarf Gimli.