Vladimir Propp

Vladimir Propp was a Russian literary scholar who analyzed folktales to identify common structures and character roles. He proposed that stories are made up of discrete elements, such as "heroes," "villains," and "donors," which interact in predictable ways. This approach, known as structuralism, highlights the underlying patterns in narratives, suggesting that despite cultural differences, stories share universal structures. Propp’s work paved the way for modern storytelling analysis in literature and film, providing insight into how narratives function and resonate with audiences. His methods contribute to the broader field of Formalism, which focuses on the form and structure of literary works.