Vladimir Propp was a structuralist who analyzed Russian folktales. In Morphology of the Folktale, Propp focused on common actions in fairy tales rather than the characters. Propp argued that a story may not use all of the functions, but the story's events will follow the sequence he identified (Kolesnikoff 450). Propp's functions of fairy tales are easily recognized both in fairy tales as well as much modern fantasy.

Propp's 31 Functions of the Fairy Tale

Propp identified 31 specific functions of fairy tales:

1. One of the members of a family absents himself from home
2. An interdiction [prohibition] is addressed to the hero [heroine] [OR: [she]he is ordered to do something]
3. The interdiction is violated
4. The villain makes an attempt at reconnaissance
5. The villain receives information about his [her] victim
6. The villain attempts to deceive his [her] victim in order to take possession of him [her] or of his [her] belongings
7. The victim submits to deception and thereby unwittingly helps his [her] enemy
8. The villain causes harm or injury to a member of a family [One member of a family either lacks something or desires to have something]
9. Misfortune or lack is made known; the hero [ine] is approached with a request or a command; [she]he is allowed to go or [she]he is dispatched
10. The seeker agrees to or decides upon counteraction
11. The hero [heroine] leaves home
12. The hero [heroine] is tested, interrogated, attacked, etc., which prepares the way for his [her] receiving either a magical agent or helper
13. The hero [heroine] reacts to the actions of the future donor
14. The hero [heroine] acquires the use of a magical agent
15. The hero [heroine] is transferred, delivered, or led to the whereabouts of an object of search
16. The hero [heroine] and the villain join in direct combat
17. The hero [heroine] is branded
18. The villain is defeated
19. The initial misfortune or lack is liquidated
20. The hero [heroine] returns
21. The hero [heroine] is pursued
22. Rescue of the hero [heroine] from pursuit
23. The hero [heroine], unrecognized, arrives home or in another country
24. A false hero [heroine] presents unfounded claims
25. A difficult task is proposed to the hero [heroine]
26. The task is resolved
27. The hero [heroine] is recognized
28. The false hero [heroine] or villain is exposed
29. The hero [heroine] is given a new appearance
30. The villain is punished
31. The hero [heroine] is married and ascends the throne
(Propp 25-65)

[The following changes have been made from Propp's original: Capitalization has been changed, gendered pronouns have been modified, and VIII and VIIIa have been combined)