Vladimir Propp's and Tzvetan Todorov’s Narrative Theory

Vladimir Propp

Apart from having a vampire's name, he also came up with a theory that in every narrative there are always certain people that play certain roles. I am going to use the example of the film “The Incredibles” to prove his theory is correct.

Hero“The hero leads the narrative and is usually looking for something (a quest) or trying to solve something (a mystery). The hero does not have to be male.”

The main hero in The Incredibles is Mr. Incredible, or Bob Parr. He is looking to put his powers to good use and to help the public so every Wednesday night he says to his family that he going bowling but he is in reality going out with his best friend – Frozone – to fight crime.

In this case the main hero is male.

Villain“Conflicts with the hero.”

In the film, Syndrome is the villain and he does indeed conflict with Mr. Incredible. Syndrome has been inventing robots called “omnidroids” to kill off all of the real super heroes so that he can pretend to be one by using various inventions. Mr. Incredible sets out to stop him killing any more super heroes and stop him pretending to be a hero.

Heroine“The heroine us usually some sort of prize for the hero. Eg. If your hero is female, your heroine could be a male.

The heroine in The Incredibles is mostly two things. Money and glory, and then as the story develops the heroine becomes the public. At first when Mirage offers Bob the job of destroying the omnidroid she tells him he can earn triple his salary and he can relive “the glory days”, which were when he didn't have to hide his powers.

Father“An authority figure who offers a reward to the hero for completing their quest. That might be a princess”.

As I mentioned before, Mirage offers Bob a large pay increase and a change to re-live the glory days.

Helper“Helps the hero, often acts as a sidekick”.

In The Incredibles there are a large amount of helpers. There is Dash, Violet, Helen and Frozone who all help Mr. Incredible in the final fight against Syndrome and the Omnidroid. Frozone is Bob's main sidekick. There is also Edna Mode, who makes a better super suit for Bob than he had before. There are also more but there are too many to list.

Donor“Gives the hero something-a clue which helps them complete their quest”.

The first omnidroid that Bob defeats could be thought of as a donor, because as he defeats it, he realizes that the only this that can destroy these omnidroids are themselves.

Also Syndromes computer is a donor because without it Bob wouldn't have know that Syndrome was killing all of the real super heroes.

Mentor“Teacher and guides the hero.”

In the film, there isn't anybody shown to have taught Bob, apart from perhaps Edna who gives Bob a massive and dramatic lecture on how he should never have a cape as part of his super suit. Bob acts as a mentor to his two children, Violet and Dash. This is shown when Dash says to his Mum, Helen, how his Dad said that their powers were nothing to be ashamed of, how they should be proud of them. Propp by Sam Russell-Redman

Todorov’s Theory

Todorov proposed that all narratives (whether that be plays, book, files ect) contain these five fundamental stages in this order:

1. A state of equilibrium (all is as it should be).2. A disruption of that order by an event.3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred.4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.5. A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium (it

does not have to be the same old system).

This theory can be applied to any mainstream movie such as made by

Jack Jack!

State Of Equilibrium

In the start of the movie, Mr. Incredible is a big-time superhero, loved by everyone. He is about to get married to ElastaGirl and he is happy with her. The world is safe.

A Disruption By An Event

One the day of Mr. Incredible’s marriage he saved a man from committing suicide. Later on he is SUED by this man as saying he sustained injuries by his saving and also did not want to be saved. This started people suing heroes all around the world and they were forced to quit and act like normal civilians for the rest of their lives.

A Recognition Of Disorder

One day when Bob (Mr. Incredible)is working in his boring office job, he get a phone call from his wife, ElastaGirl, saying that they have finally move in. this is a slightly symbolic and verbal code saying they must now recognise their place in life.

The Last Box

An Attempt To Repair The Damage

When he is offered the chance of another job, he accepts eagerly, ‘To get back to the glory days’. To repair the damage done to the equilibrium.

A NEW Equilibrium

In the end after having to save the entire world, to civilians are grateful and happy with them and heroes are now accepted back within the economy; still acting with a secret identity.

Conclusion

Overall as you can see all of Todorov’s points are proved within ‘The Incredibles’, as is the case with MANY, MANY more films such as ‘Finding Nemo’, ‘Shrek’, ‘Cars’, ‘Toy Story’, ‘Toy Story 2’, ‘Toy Story3’, ‘Monster’s Inc.’, ‘Kung Fu Panda’, ‘Kung Fu Panda 2’, ‘Madagascar’, ‘Madagascar 2’, ‘Bee Movie’, ‘How To Train Your Dragon’, ‘Wall-E’, ‘Mega-Mind 3D’, ‘Monsters VS Aliens’, ect…

Todorov by Sathyam Sharma