Exploring narrative 2 Propp - Assessment Task

• You will use key theorists to analyse media texts. 

Key words: Chronological, Propp, Hero, villain.

Recap: Todorov's Narrative Stages

There are five stages:
1. Equilibrium – the setting is established, key character(s) are introduced and
the storyline has begun to be set up.

2. This is then followed by a disruption whereby an oppositional character(s)
appear and the story takes a particular direction

3. Then there is recognition of disruption, in that the lives of characters and
events are interwoven. Tension builds throughout this section, which is often
the longest.

4. An attempt to repair the disruption is at the highest point of tension within
the film after which there is a change in the dynamic.

5. Finally, there is a re-instatement of equilibrium where matters are sorted
out, problems are solved and questions are answered. This can be
described as a new equilibrium, as the story has been resolved but the events have

possibly changed people

Todorov came up with his theories after making a study of Russian folk tales. So too did Vladimir Propp, who came up with the theory that there are only a certain number of characters, who crop up in most narratives. 
It is usually easy to spot the hero (protagonist) and villain (antagonist) in most cases, but as Propp pointed out there are eight character types:

1. The villain (struggles against the hero)
2. The donor (prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object)
3. The (magical) helper (helps the hero in the quest)
4. The princess/prize (person the hero marries, thing sought for during the narrative)
5. The false hero (perceived as good character in beginning but emerges as evil)
6. The dispatcher (character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off)
7. The hero reacts to the donor, weds the princess/ gets the prize
8. The Princess' Father, recognises the hero and may punish the villain

Narrative theory propp

Task one: 

THIS IS AN ASSESSMENT TASK>

Use the tables provided.
Write as neatly and clearly as you can.

You will be marked against this success criteria:
Analyse and respond to media texts/topics using media key concepts

and appropriate terminology (WJEC Assessment Objective 2)

Marks	Description	Criteria based on ability to:
A* 19-20	Sophisticated ability to:	analyse and respond to the narrative of the media text investigated using media concepts of audience and organisations  present their findings in an engaging manner for an audience  use appropriate terminology effectively.
A 16-18	Excellent ability to:	analyse and respond to the narrative of the media text investigated using the media concepts of audience and organisations  present their findings in an organised and well constructed manner incorporating other examples relevantly  use appropriate terminology effectively.
B 14-15	Confident ability to:	 analyse and respond to the narrative of the media text using the media concept of audience  present their findings in an effective and appropriate manner incorporating other examples  use appropriate terminology.
C 12-13	Sound ability to:	explore narrative conventions in relation to the text under investigation and show an awareness of the ways in which audiences/users can be attracted to the text because of its narrative construction  respond in a relevant manner using an appropriate register for the investigation using other related examples to explore the title  terminology will be appropriate to the text investigated.
D 10-11	Some ability to:	 explore narrative conventions in relation to the text under investigation  respond in a simple manner and use evidence which is largely relevant and is able to refer to other related examples  appropriate terminology will be beginning to emerge.
E 8-9	Simple ability to:	 demonstrate an emerging sense of narrative conventions in relation to the text under investigation  create a response consisting of evidence which is limited but relevant  terminology will be beginning to emerge.
F 4-7	Basic ability to:	demonstrate an emerging sense of narrative conventions in relation to the text under investigation  create a response consisting of evidence which is limited but relevant  terminology will be beginning to emerge.
G 0-3	Minimal ability to:	 create appropriate findings  respond in an intelligible manner  complete the investigative tasks on the chosen text.

a) Apply Propp's character functions to animated feature film Shrek

b) Apply Todorov's theory of equilibrium to Shrek.

Year 10 GCSE MEDIA STUDIES. ASSESSMENT TASK. November 2014

Name_______________________________

Propp’s Character Functions applied to the feature film Shrek

Propp Character Type	Character Name in ‘Shrek’	What does the character do to qualify your answer?

Todorov stages of Equilibrium applied to the feature film Shrek

Stage of Todorov’s Theory	Events Identified in ‘Shrek’	Explain how you qualify your answer?

Propp’s theory outlines all the characters in a traditional story. 

The Hero 

This is without doubt Shrek.

He seems ugly on the outside but has a heart of gold on the inside.

Shrek, has to go and rescue the beautiful princess Fiona to regain the solitude of his swamp.

With his quest in mind he sets out to save the princess-a classic fairy tale, but with a twist. 

Shrek is an ogre!

The Villain

This is evidently Lord Farquardd.

This evil lord is the ruler of Duloc and has ruined Shrek’s solitude by dumping all the fairy tale creatures in Shrek’s swamp.

When Shrek comes to complain Farquardd chooses him as his champion and strikes a deal.

Shrek must save the beautiful princess Fiona, wishing to marry her and become king.

Although this is the deal struck Farquardd may have more sinister plans in mind.

The Prize

The Prize within this film is Fiona.

She is portrayed as a classic fairytale princess-locked in a tower, guarded by a dragon and must wait for her ‘Prince Charming’ to come and save her.

Although this is true Fiona harbours a dark secret that surfaces at sundown-she turns into an ogre!

The Father

The father is complicated.

Within this film it is actually Farquardd.

The terms of the deal struck between Shrek and Farquardd are , if Shrek manages to get Fiona Farquardd will clear Shrek’s swamp of fairy tale creatures.

This shows how Farquardd is offering a prize for completion of a quest, so therefore his is ‘the father; within Shrek.

The Helper

The helper is probably the most well known character- iiitttttt’s Don-key!

Within the film donkey provides help to Shrek and aids him upon his quest, acting like a sidekick.

The Donor

Application of Todorov:

In the animated feature film Shrek Todorov's stages can be applied 

A children’s film based on an ‘alternative’ fairy tale, it has a relatively basic storyline and it fits well with Todorov’s theory. 

At the beginning of the film we find Shrek, the ogre, living quite peacefully in his house in the woods Equilibrium has been established. 

Soon there is a disruption to the equilibrium when Shrek finds that his home has been overrun by fairy tale creatures, which he soon finds out have been sent by the King, Lord Farquaad. 

This is where Shrek identifies the disruption by going to Lord Farquaad and asking for his home to be returned to its normal state. 

Upon arriving at Farquaad’s castle, there is an agreement between Shrek and Farquaad that Shrek’s home will be returned to normal after he goes on a dangerous quest to save a princess; an attempt to repair disruption.

After much danger and adventure along the way, Shrek and his partner Donkey finally resolve the issue and resolve the problem which was causing disruption to equilibrium, thus ‘saving the day’ and restoring equilibrium to his life and to the land of Dulac.

Shrek learns the lesson of tolerance.