Propp's Morphology of Folk Tales

Propp's Morphology of Folk Tales is a framework developed by Russian scholar Vladimir Propp to analyze the structure of folktales. He identified 31 common narrative elements, or “functions,” that appear in stories across different cultures, such as a hero's quest, overcoming obstacles, and the eventual resolution. Propp categorized characters into specific roles, like the hero, villain, and mentor, showing how these elements interact to create a cohesive narrative. This approach helps us understand the underlying patterns in storytelling and illustrates how diverse tales share fundamental similarities.