Today, we resume the more in-depth analysis of Propp’s Fairy Tale
Functions, continuing with the next four stages. As in the last post, we’ll be
using the films Aladdin, Harry Potter and
the Sorcerer’s Stone, and Stardust
as examples. The examples are mine, but the comments on each stage are
paraphrases of the material in Christopher Vogler and David McKenna’s book Memo from the Story Dept. Propp’s
Functions are not a rigid structure. The functions can be swip-swapped around
in nearly any order, as you’ll find is the case in my examples.
4. Reconnaissance: The
villain, perhaps tipped off by the third function (but not always), seeks
information about the hero. (Or the hero may seek information about the
villain. Somebody’s interested in somebody else.)
In modern literature, the villain may not make an appearance
until the end of the first act or early in the second, but his minions will
likely track down the hero and keep tabs on him. The hero can also perform this
function, seeking information about the villain, attempting to right whatever
wrong that the villain might have done.
It’s a bit tricky pinpointing this function in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Upon
visiting Diagon Alley, Harry is bombarded with a plethora of information, and
naturally, he has a lot of questions. First, Harry asks Hagrid, after leaving
the Leaky Cauldron, why he’s so famous, but Hagrid refuses to answer. Next,
Harry finds his wand, and Mr. Ollivander tells him that his wand is the brother
to the wand that gave him his lightning bolt scar. Of course, Mr. Ollivander
does not elaborate very much beyond that. Harry then asks Hagrid what he knows
about the man who killed his parents and gave him his scar.
In Stardust, the villains
perform the Reconnaissance—both the witches who wish to eat the heart of the
star and the princes searching for the king’s ruby. Each of them use magical runes
to track down their prize, all the while, the hero Tristan is oblivious that he
carries what both parties seek.
5. Delivery: The
villain gets information about the hero. Or the hero gets information about the
villain, perhaps brought by an informant.
At some point, the villain knows that the hero exists, and vice
versa. This function pairs with the previous. The hero may find the information
he was seeking about the villain, or the villain’s inquiries may tip off the
hero to the danger. The purpose of this function is to make the hero and the
villain aware of each other.
Jafar’s magic reveals that Aladdin is the one who must fetch the
lamp.
Hagrid tells Harry the story of his parents’ deaths.
The witch’s runes tell her where to capture the star, and Tristan
learns from the stars in the sky that Yvaine is in trouble.
6. Trickery: The
villain uses information to deceive or entrap the hero, or to steal something.
The villain may assume a disguise or take on a new form. They may
try to persuade the hero to do something, use magic against them, set a trap,
or mislead the hero somehow.
Jafar-in-disguise asks Aladdin to venture into the Cave of
Wonders.
Voldemort uses Professor Quirrell to regain strength and hide
from his enemies.
The witch disguises herself as an innkeeper’s wife in order to
trap the star.
7. Complicity: The
hero is tricked, or unwittingly helps the enemy.
The hero may be tricked into thinking an enemy is actually an
ally, and may even be tricked into helping the enemy for a while before
realizing the truth.
Aladdin enters the Cave of Wonders to retrieve the lamp for
Jafar-in-disguise.
Harry, and nearly everyone else, is oblivious to Voldemort’s hold
on Professor Quirrell. Harry believes that Snape is the villain, not Quirrell.
Yvaine enters the magical inn, unaware that the innkeeper’s wife
is a witch and means to eat her heart.
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Read the previous post in the series: Propp's Functions, Part 1
Read the next post in the series: Propp's Functions, Part 3
Read a summary of all Propp's functions in the Introduction to Propp's Fairy Tale Functions
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