Wednesday 21 April 2010

Task 6 The linked document outlines Vladimir Propp's Formalist assessment of 100 Russian folktales.

Plot
1. The hero is forbidden to do something
2. Guidance: Hero is transferred or led to whereabouts of an object of the search
3. The villain receives information about his victim
4. A victim is fooled by deception and thereby unwittingly helps his enemy
5. Hero decides to act in a way that will resolve the misfortune or lack
6. Hero is wounded or marked in some way
7. Receipt of magical object or power
8. Villain is defeated
Characters
1. The Villain – struggles against the hero
6. Hero or victim/seeker hero – reacts to the donor, weds the princess
2. the donor – prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object
5. The dispatcher – character who makes the lack known and sends off the hero

Story.
[1] Bob Burgerking (Hero) is a young secondary school student who is unable to leave home because his Mother (Dispatcher) his too overprotective about his whereabouts. She must maintain a 24/7 watch over all of his activities and makes sure he is on schedule with his work. He never did anything wrong, he always followed the rule book and stayed behind the line.
However one day she is so busy and caught up in her house chores that she decides to allow Bob out but only to run some errands. [2] She briefs Bob that he must go seek and retrieve exactly 3 pounds of flour, £1 worth of potatoes and a sack of carrots for tonight's dinner. Making it very clear that if he returns empty handed then there shall be no food but only the hand...
Bob has until 3pm to return home and it is now just half past 12, giving him a good 3 hours and more to complete his quest. Bob has been out before by himself, but this time he was unsupervised and ecstatic. However unaware, Bob was being stalked by no other than Julian McDonalds (Villain) - the school bully. In the past Bob has been accosted by big Julian and it didn't go down too well after Julian once broke Bob's nose some time last year. From that day, Bob has always held a secret grudge against Julian but has never had the guts or courage to stand up to him. [3] Well, anyway, Julian had been keeping a close watch on Bob for the past month or so and with his military grade night vision goggles he discovered that Bob had been saving up some money in a jar. Julian wanted the jar and was so determined to make it his own. So while Bob was prancing down towards the local grocery Julian followed him, always only one corner behind.
Bob kept one hand in his pocket. He always wanted to be sure that he had the money on him. His other hand was swaying backwards and forwards. He wasn't paying attention to what was in front of him so he tripped over something and knocked himself out. After regaining consciousness he realized it was Julian McDonald! He was lying on the floor bleeding. Bob was startled and didn't know what to do. Julian murmured to Bob and told him he needed to go to hospital but he didn't have enough money to pay it and he will die if he doesn't get there soon. Bob, being the saint, thought what he could do to aid his fellow man and decided that he could give him some of the money that he needs. Bob asked how much money Julian would need to seek service from the hospital. Julian whispered "about a jar full". [4] To the naive Bob, his jar popped to his mind and he quickly dashed off and came back with his jar. On Bob's return, Julian snatches the jar off him and punches him in the face once again, Bob feels the nostalgia run through his blood and veins. Julian walks off laughing leaving poor Bob feeling sorrow for himself, sobbing helplessly as blood drips down his face and eyes.
Bob picks himself up and tries to work out where he was meant to be heading. He heads back on track to the grocery but then he is stopped by a suspicious character. A man that only goes by the name Milkshake hisses at Bob, insisting that he follow him into an alley. Bob didn't like the situation, he was always taught to never follow strangers down an alley. He was about to walk off but then Milkshake grabbed him around the neck and dragged him into the alley. Bob was about to cry for help but then Milkshake whipped out a Swiss army knife, Military-grade, right before his eyeball. Milkshake snapped "Make a move sonny and I'll keep your eyeball as a souvenir for my dog" and pointed to his dog, that had no eyes... Bob gulped, sealed his mouth and tears came pouring out. Milkshake examined his victims face but suddenly let go and burst out laughing. "Don't worry I'm not going to hurt you, the dog's vegetarian anyway" yapped Milkshake. Bob just about half wet himself. "Look, I've been watching that fat piece of shit quite closely the past few months, who has been watching you for the past few months! This isn't good. I saw what happened to ya just now" commented Milkshake. Bob looked away in shame, he had nothing to say. It was true, all too true, but he couldn't handle the truth. "Look, all you have to do is learn how to handle the situation" said Milkshake as he stuck a needle into his arm. "What's that?" questioned Bob, "It's Heroin" replied Milkshake with a crazy look to his face as he pumped the liquid into his vein. "You know what that is!?" riddled Milkshake, "No I do not and I don't want to know" Bob replied in caution. Milkshake took the needle and chucked it to the side before fiddling around into his coat pocket looking for something. [7] He grabs a paper-wrapped object and puts it into Bob's hand. Bob peeps inside and as he sees what's inside his mouth and eyes widen. "This should help you to deal with your 'friend' once and for all, anyway quickly run along now. We don't know each anymore" winked Milkshake.
Julian just spent all the money he stole on fast food and sweets and looked temporarily content, but it did not last long before he began seeking his target - Bob Burgerking. Conveniently, Julian was just almost near the location where he had last encountered Bob and at the same time Bob was just coming out of the alleyway. Julian preyed upon Bob and sneaked behind. Bob didn't anticipate that he would meet Julian so soon and suddenly he was grabbed from behind and thrown to the floor. "Gimme more money, I know you have some for some shopping" blabbered Julian. "No, get lost" rebelled Bob. Julian stepped towards Bob and towered him, "what did you say blood?". "I said go away!" stated Bob. "Come again?" said Julian as he pushed his cheek against Bob's face. "Go away forever!" screamed Bob as he pushed Julian's face away and grabbed the wrapped item and triggered something, BANG! Blood splatters all over the walls and road as the giant falls to the floor. [8] Bob laughs to himself, "He's gone! He's gone!" and starts jumping on the spot. He throws the object into the bin and continues to prance to grocery. On from that day on he was never bothered by Julian again.
The end.

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