Vladimir Yakovlevich Propp was a Soviet formalist scholar who analyzed the basic plot components of Russian folk tales to identify their simplest irreducible narrative elements. Despite clearly stating the different categories of characters found in tales, Propp did not state that these had to apply to everyone separate character; the villain could also be the father etc. using Propp's theory, when a character has been correctly identified within the story, it is always predictable to what the character will do throughout, as each character has a sphere of action. After the initial situation is depicted, any story can be broken down into 31 different functional sections that supposedly incorporated all of the plot components that a story needed. According to Propp, a cohesive story can be created by the use of these 31 functional sections.

1.     Absentation-This section usually includes a member of a family to leave the security of their home. The instant division of family/lack of security at such an early stage in the film immediately injects the storyline with tension. This particular character usually ends up being a hero/heroin of the story, and usually returns to rescue a member of their family. The hero will be shown as an ordinary person in this section but will be perceived in a different way after they overcome a courageous situation and prove everyone they are the rightful heroes.
2.      Interdiction- the hero or the main character is given an interdiction and warned against doing something. For example if there is a sign prohibiting access to a particular place, and at this point the hero has to decide to carry on his quest or not. This hero always ends up taking the dangerous route, this helps arise suspense for the viewers.
3.     Violation of Interdiction- When the hero has entered the dangerous or the prohibited place, and this is the part when the villain is introduced to the story. This usually results in misfortune and involves many obstacles for them to overcome. The actions of the villain are not always clear to the hero; because usually the villain is lurking around without the hero knowing about it. Another situation is that the villain is placed at the hero's home threatening his family.
4.      Reconnaissance- Usually, the villain tries to find valuable family possessions or even take the family members like his precious girlfriend or young children so they can get the desired information. They usually take the children because they thought to be helpless and vulnerable, as it may be the villain's thinking to get the information needed. But this also gives the hero the chance to shine as because he can save them from the evil grasp of the villain. However this action is taken by the villain to attract the hero into confrontation and result in the meeting of the two vital characters.
5.      Delivery- Villain seeks to see the hero, but already knowing why he is special. At this point of the story the villain receives some of the information wanted and usually through the innocent and frightened family member.
6.      Trickery- Often at this particular point of the story the villain and the hero have only briefly met and tricking takes place in this section. Usually includes gaining the confidence of the hero or the villain’s by using tricks. This is done to fool the hero into the villain is in actual fact a friend. At this point the villain has also taken someone who is close to the hero as a hostage and requires the hero to supply the villain with certain information.       
7.      Complicity of Hero/Victim- is taken in by the villain’s deception. Due to the false confidence that has been provided by the villain they naively helped him without knowing that the information he is obtaining from them in working against the good.
8.      Villainy or Lack- Either friend or hero or the family member desire or lack something that can be provided by the villain. Villain usually offers what is desired in exchange of some important information on the hero. An alternative to this is that usually the villain inflicts pain onto one of the characters closest to the hero. This can be from forced marriage to death.
9.      Mediation- Villainy or lack is discovered or made known to the hero.
10.      Beginning Counter Action- at this point of the story the ordinary person needs to make an important decision which will set out a course of strenuous obstacles that will define the heroism.
11.     Departure- The hero leaves his home.
12.     First Function of Donor- The donor test and interrogates and attacks the hero which allows preparation to defeat the villain.
13.     Hero’s Reaction- the hero reacts to what is being inflicted by future donor/helper; this could be done by failing tests presented to the hero or even refusal to submit entirely.
14.     Receipt of Magical Element- Hero acquired consumption of the magical element for example in Shrek when he drank the magical potion to please his girlfriend but not knowing that she is being lied to, from the godmother’s son and her father.
15.      Guidance- Hero's location changed to lead onto whereabouts of an object of the search.
16.     Struggle- The hero rebels and forms a situation that leads to a confrontation with the villain, which usually results in direct combat, when Shrek finally arrived to the palace and he fought the godmother’s son and the godmother so he could get his girlfriend back.
17.     Branding- The hero is “branded” by the villain during the combat; this is usually a serious wound that leads the audience to believe that the villain may win the battle. This helps into arise of the suspense and tension for the audience.
18.     Victory- After “branding” the hero somehow finds it within him to gather enough strength to defeat the villain and claim his rightful victory.
19.     Liquidation- The villainy or lack is resolved or overcome by the defeat of the villain and normally is replaced.
20.     Return- After the quest is over, the hero returns to his family home.
21.     Pursuit- on the way back to his home, the hero is pursued. The pursuer usually intends on killing or harming the hero.
22.     Rescue- The hero is rescued from the pursuer; this is sometime done by using obstacles to delay the pursuer or by the hero going into hiding.
23.      Unrecognised Arrival- Hero is placed in an unfamiliar place, usually in another country so he can’t be recognised.
24.     Unfounded Claims- The false hero is now introduced to the story, interpreting the original hero’s acts.
25.     Difficult Task- the hero is proposed with difficult tasks to prove that he is who he claims to be. This can be done through various riddles and tests.
26.     Solution- The tasks and riddles proposed to the hero is successfully overcome and his identity is reclaimed.
27.     Recognition- The hero is recognised, usually by the “branding” earlier done by the villain.
28.     Exposure- The false hero is exposed by the real hero.
29.     Transfiguration- The hero is given a new appearance; this is usually done by the use of new costume resulting from his courageous act.
30.     Punishment-Villain and the False Hero are punished. This is usually done by imprisonment or banishment.
31.     Wedding- Hero marries and is rewarded for completing the torturous quest and overcoming the villain and other evil characters.