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| Photo Credit: Virtual-History |
KING ARTHUR: “I have no pride left in me. What I do, now I do for
my people and for Camelot. And may they forgive me. This is my last act as your
king. Do not be afraid. All things change. I am Arthur of Camelot, and I
command you now… all… To fight! Fight like you’ve never fought before! Never
surrender! Never surrender! Fight as you never….”
[Arthur is
shot by several crossbow bolts]
KING ARTHUR: “Camelot lives!”
Magic
Tip: Number 16: Struggle.
—First Knight, 1995, Jerry Zucker.
FolkTales
Have you ever read the wonderful
Russian Folktales? Or Ian Fleming's novels (James Bond)? What about Indiana
They all have something in common: the same storyline.
Vladimir Propp in his Morphology of the Folktale analyzed
the plot components of Russian folktales to identify the narrative elements
(functions). Function is therefore the action of a character which defines the meaning
of the climax.
The 31-character functions:
1. Absentation: A member of a family
leaves the security of the home environment.
2.
Interdiction:
An interdiction is addressed to the hero.
3.
Violation
of Interdiction: The interdiction is violated.
4.
Reconnaissance.
The villain makes an attempt at reconnaissance.
5.
Delivery:
The villain gains information about the victim.
6. Trickery:
The villain attempts to deceive the victim to take possession of victim or victim’s
belongings.
7.
Complicity:
Victim taken in by deception, unwittingly helping the enemy.
8.
Villainy
or Lack: Villain causes harm/injury to family member.
9.
Mediation:
Misfortune or lack is made known.
10.
Beginning
counter-action: Seeker agrees to, or decides upon counter-action.
11.
Departure:
Hero leaves home.
12.
First
function of the donor: Hero is tested, preparing the way for his/her receiving
magical agent or helper.
13.
Hero’s
reaction: Hero reacts to actions of future donor.
14.
Receipt
of a magical agent: Hero acquires use of a magical agent.
15.
Guidance:
Hero is transferred, delivered or led to whereabouts of an object of the
search.
16.
Struggle:
Hero and villain join in direct combat.
17.
Branding:
Hero is branded.
18.
Victory:
Villain is defeated.
19.
Liquidation:
Initial misfortune or lack is resolved.
20.
Return:
Hero returns.
21.
Pursuit:
Hero is pursued.
22.
Rescue:
Hero is rescued from pursuit.
23.
Unrecognized
arrival: Hero unrecognized, arrives home or in another country.
24.
Unfounded
claims: False hero presents unfounded claims.
25.
Difficult
task: Difficult task proposed to the hero.
26.
Solution:
Task is resolved.
27.
Recognition:
Hero is recognized.
28.
Exposure:
False hero or villain is exposed.
29.
Transfiguration:
Hero is given a new appearance.
30.
Punishment:
Villain is punished.
31.
Wedding:
Hero marries and ascends the throne.
Magic Tip: Write down the above functions on cards. Shuffle
them, pick five, and tell me a folktale!
Enjoy your writing!
***For more Magic Writing,
click the topic 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry' on the right
side.
***Check out the new reviews of ‘Deconstructing INFATUATION’
Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All
rights reserved.
2 comments:
What an interesting point! I never thought about Bond or Jones as folk heroes, but they sure have become that. Well done.
@Red Tash, thanks for you comment.
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