Propp's Narrative Theory!

Propp's Theory applied to Mean Girls:

Hero-Cady

Villain-The plastics

The Helpers- Lizzy and Damien
The Father- Family and People and School

In the first part of the film Cady would be the part of the hero she is introduced immediately and is the protagonist of the film. We also meet her and her family who have left Africa and Cady is about to start her first day at a high school - this fits with sphere 1 part 1 of Propps theory

Cady is then told not to be friends with the plastics by Damien and Lizzy and this is when we find out ‘1st sphere part 2’ the interdiction is announced

They invite Cady to have lunch with them in order to meet her which shows that the interdiction is violated which is ‘sphere 1 past 3’

We are then introduced to ‘The plastics’ that would play the villain according to the theory. This also fits with the 1st sphere part 4 ‘Villain tries to meet hero’.

The plastics then find out that Cady has moved here from Africa and that she likes Aaron in her maths class this would relate to ‘sphere 1 part 5’ where the villain has now found out information that she is vulnerable and easily influenced and likes Regina’s ex.

The Plastics have now made the Cady, the hero part of there group in this way Cady turns quite evil which highlights a flaw in Propp’s theory because she has now turned into one of the villains for part of the film. Hovever the fact she has been tricked and is now turning into one of them corresponds to ‘Sphere 1 part 6/7’

The Hero is also tricked because Regina tells Cady she can’t go with Aaron because its against the girl rules and then Regina gets back with Aaron knowing Cady likes him

In ‘Sphere 2 part 10’ the hero decided on counteraction, Cady plots to get Regina back my doing horrible things to her and is helped by Damien and Lizzy

In Sphere 3 part 12 the hero is tested this is like when Cady is tested by Regina where she flaunts her boyfriend that Cady wants but Cady has to stay strong in order for her counteraction to work


After Cady sets up all these plans to make Regina unpopular she soon finds out and this is where the hero and villain are now in direct combat 'Sphere 3 part 16' Regina hates Cady and visa versa

The hero is then branded 'Sphere 3 part 17' - Cady is the new plastic however this is not a good thing and does not fit with a hero's description

The villain who is Regina is defeated and nobody likes her anymore - this fits with 'sphere 3 part 18'

So now Regina wants to get her own back so decided to hand in the burn book which is full of horrible things about people and give it into the headteacher corresponding with 'Sphere 4 part 21' Hero is persued

Regina then says thats she owns the burn book, when infact that was set up, and pretends shes very upset by what has been done which is like 'Sphere 4 part 24' false hero claims success of true hero

The difficult talk of 'Sphere 4 part 25' is that Cady is exposed as being mean and everyone turns against so she has to not lie anymore and get her friends back and to be liked

This is resolved by true hero 'Sphere 4 part 26' when she goes to the prom in order to do her speech and not take the crown but share it with everyone

Everyone likes her again and this is 'Sphere 4 part 27' - the truth is recognised
Everything then changes, Cady becomes like a normal girl, the plastics break up and everyone has joined new groups and have a new appearence which fits with 'Sphere 4 part 29'

Although not every part fits, considering this was made a long time ago alot of functions fit with a modern film Mean Girls. ady did not leave home but she changed and went through a mental journey in Mean Girls.

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Todorov's Narrative Theory

1. State of equilibrium
2. Disruption of that order
3. Recognition that the disruption has occurred
4. An attempt to repair the damage
5. A return or restoration of a new equilibrium


Monsters Inc.

1. State of equilibrium - monsters collecting screams from children in order to supply electricity to the ‘monster world’

2. Children becoming harder to scare, meaning monsters aren’t collecting enough screams to power the city. Sulley accidentally leaves a door open, allowing a little girl to enter the monster world (children are seen as toxic)

3. They dress the girl up as a monster to make sure no one notices, however Sulley develops an attachment to the child, whom he has named Boo.

4. Sulley feels obliged to sneak ‘Boo’ back to her room safely which results in many escapades for Mike and Sulley

5. They return Boo to her bedroom, and in the process, they realise that children are not a threat to monsters. In fact, the two discover something that changes the monster world forever - that a child's laughter is far more powerful than a scream