propp

1. PROPP’S CHARACTERS
& CRIME DRAMA
NARRATIVE THEORY

2. TODAY’S OBJECTIVES
• To identify the typical traits of the hero and
villain in a crime drama programmes
• To evaluate the extent to which the hero
and villain in Luther are conventional
• To provide analysis of micro elements to
support ideas

3. RE-CAP
• What is genre?
• What is a sub-genre?
• What is hybrid-genre?
• What is a symbolic code?
• What is iconography?
• What is a stock character?
• What are the different ‘hero’ stock characters we might see in a crime drama?

4. PROPP’S CHARACTERS
• Hero: goes on a quest or is looking for something, trying to solve something.
• Villain: stops the hero from succeeding and will do whatever it takes to stop
him/her
• Dispatcher: sends the hero on his/her mission
• Donor: gives the hero something e.g. a special power or weapon, to help him/her
• Helper: literally helps the hero, maybe a sidekick, working alongside him/her
• False hero: takes credit for the hero’s actions, tries to make out they’re a good guy
but they aren’t
• Princess: used as the prize or reward for the hero
• Father: an authority figure and the one whom rewards the hero at the end of their
mission

7. Propp’s Theory
Propp suggested that every narrative has eight
different character types.
Hero: Seeks
something
Villain:
Obstructs the
hero
Princess:
Hero’s
reward
Father: Gives rewards
Helper: Helps the heroDispatcher: Sends
the hero on a quest
Donor: Gives hero
something special
False Hero: Acts
heroically, mistaken
for real hero

8. Propp’s Theory
Propp suggested that every narrative has eight
different character types.
Hero: Seeks
something
Villain:
Obstructs the
hero
Princess:
Hero’s
reward
Father: Gives rewards
Helper: Helps the heroDispatcher: Sends
the hero on a quest
Donor: Gives hero
something special
False Hero: Acts
heroically, mistaken
for real hero

9. PROPP’S FUNCTIONS IN LUTHER
• How many of Propp’s characters can you
identify?
• How many Crime Drama stock ‘good guys’ can
you find?
• Note their names in the grid.

11. CRIME DRAMA HEROES

12. CRIME DRAMA VILLAINS

13. FEMALE VILLAINS – THE FEMME FATALE

14. THE FEMME FATALE

15. IN THE EXAM

16. ALICE MORGAN = THE VILLAIN

17. JOHN LUTHER = THE HERO

18. Denotation Connotation
Luther’s costume denotes…
Alice’s costume includes…
…which connotes
…and this suggests
…and this indicates
represents
highlights
emphasises
illustrates
underlines

19. MARK YOUR WORK
• 1 mark for identifying the denotation
• 1 mark for exploring the connotation
• =2 marks per point
• 8 marks total
• Luther’s costume in the extract of a shirt and tie connotes his official status and
authority as a police detective
• Luther’s costume in the extract of an undone top button and loosened tie
connotes that he is not conventional and doesn’t conform to rules
• Alice Morgan’s long, red hair in the extract connotes that she is volatile,
dangerous and sexual.
• It contrasts with her short, messy hair at the beginning of the extract when she is
pretending to be innocent connoting that she is manipulative and conniving
• Alice Morgan is wearing a smart jacket, trousers and boots in the extract. This
gives her a business-like appearance which connotes that she is an efficient and
ruthless criminal

20. TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THESE TWO CHARACTERS
TYPICAL OF THE GENRE?