MORPHOLOGY OF THE FOLKTALE VLADIMIR PROPP By Ema Ramot

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

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

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)

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

2. INTERDICTION A prohibition is addressed to the hero (you dare not look into the closet)

3. VIOLATION OF INTERDICTION The prohibition is violated a new personage enters the tale – the villain (a dragon, a witch)

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

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

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.....)

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

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.....)

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

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

10. BEGINNING COUNTERACTION The seeker agrees to or decides upon counteraction

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.

12. THE FIRST FUNCTION OF THE DONOR The hero is tested, which prepares for his receiving a magical agent or a helper

13. THE HERO`S REACTION The hero reacts to the actions of the future donor

14. PROVISION OR RECEIPT OF A MAGICAL AGENT The hero acquires the use of magical agent

15. SPATIAL TRANSFERENCE BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS, GUIDANCE The hero is transferred, delivered or led to the whereabouts of an object of search

16. STRUGGLE The hero and the villain join in direct combat

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

18. VICTORY The villain is defeated

19. LIQUIDATION The initial misfortune or lack is liquidated The narrative receives its peak

20. RETURN The hero returns

21. PURSUIT, CHASE The hero is pursued

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

23. UNRECOGNIZED ARRIVAL The hero, unrecognized, arrives home or in another country

24. UNFOUNDED CLAIMS A false hero presents unfounded claims.

25. DIFFICULT TASK A difficult task is proposed to the hero.

26. SOLUTION The task is resolved

27. ROCOGNITION The hero is recognized.

28. EXPOSURE The false hero or villain is exposed.

29. TRANSFIGURATION The hero is given a new appearance.

30. PUNISHMENT The villain is punished.

31. WEDDING The hero is married/ascends the throne.