THE UNKNOWN

Character analysis using Vladimir Propp’s theory of narrative

Propp’s theory

The 7 types of characters in Propp’s theory The hero – restore the narrative protagonist The villain - narrative disruption, who struggles with the hero

Antagonist The Helper - aids the hero in restoration The Princess – victim most threatened by the villain: mostly the main

character The dispatcher - sends the hero on the task The Donor – give the hero something to restore The False Hero - (or antihero or usurper), who claims to be the hero,

often seeking and reacting like a real hero (ie by trying to marry the princess)

Propp’s theory relates to stereotypes and archetypes because his character definitions are a widely held but fixed and oversimplified idea of a particular type of person. His characters are a very typical type of a certain person and are far from anything that would be a countertype.

Stereotypes, archetypes and countertypes The hero – stereotypically male alternatively can be female The villain – stereotypically male enigmatic The Helper – friends of hero The Princess – hero attempts to save them The False Hero – appears to be good, but isn’t can be both male and

female The Dispatcher – can possibility be both positive and negative,

countertype: appears to be good but isn’t. Propp’s theory links to the characters in my horror film to a certain

extent however some on the characters he mentions are not involved. This is because his theory is very ‘fairy-tale’ based and horror films aren’t in the same format of events. The following characters are the once that are included:

Hero Helper Villain Character not include: false hero , the donor, the dispacter

The hero/ Victim: Girl (Protagonist) Name: Lucy Phalange Appearance and costume: typical teenage girl, dressed in

very fashionable clothing, dark hair, fair skin and made up with makeup.

  Background  In our trailer this girl is an 18 year old girl who is a well known

popular person at school. Lucy is a young adult who enjoys the finer things in life. She is the only child of a very wealthy and well known family in the area.

she has a large group of friends parents are rich, she flaunts their money which gains her more

friend does well in school outgoing and a bubbly personality a very typical teenage/young adult girl with that wealth her mother and father have got a new house

where she says  Is been attempted to be killed by the villain (antagonist)   Personality

Portraying  Loud Out going Confident Happy  

Expensive clothes to show the parents wealth, she is portrayed in the trailer as a very innocent vulnerable, someone who would be an easy target.

Antagonist Name: The Unknown/ Theodore Phalange Appearance and costume: dark dressed in black mysterious clothing. Looks

damaged and scruffy, cuts and blood stains on his face.  Background   The unknown is a name the locals have given to the person who was once called

Theodore Phalange. Theodore was a mentally disturbed, unstable occupant of a house. He had a very rough upbringing, as he was continuously neglected and isolated from his parents and others. Due to his mental condition people in the neighbourhood avoided him and abused him. Rumours have it Theodore murdered his parents and any others who he felt done badly to him. Later he was then court and executed. Know his present still lives on in the house he grew up in.

  Personality

Vicious loud mysterious, evil unpredictable possessed out of control   

Portrayed

In the trailer the unknown is shown as a cunning, cold and calculating individual. Close up shots will show the facial expression and show the menacing character. He wears dark roped clothing portraying death or the grim ripper how is the taker of lives.