OCR A Level Propp Character Theory

A complete OCR A-Level Media Studies lesson introducing Propp’s character theory and applying it to crime drama set texts.

This fully editable PowerPoint (.pptx) lesson focuses on Propp’s character theory, helping students understand how character roles shape narrative, audience response and meaning in media texts.

The lesson introduces key Proppian character types including hero, villain, princess/prize, donor, dispatcher, helper and false hero. Students explore how characters can conform to or subvert typical narrative expectations before applying the theory to Vigil and The Avengers.

The lesson includes a strong focus on how characters such as Amy Silva, Kirsten Longacre, John Steed and Emma Peel challenge or conform to the stereotypical Proppian hero. Students are supported with word banks, sentence starters, worksheet-style tasks, discussion activities and model feedback slides.

This lesson covers:

OCR A-Level Media Studies
Audience theory
Character theory
Propp’s theory
Proppian character types
Hero
Villain
Princess/prize
Donor
Dispatcher
Helper
False hero
Conform and subvert
Narrative roles
Audience response
Crime drama
Vigil
The Avengers
Amy Silva
Kirsten Longacre
John Steed
Emma Peel
Gender representation
Heroism
Character stereotypes

What is included:

Fully editable PowerPoint (.pptx) lesson
Do Now task on villain characters
Teacher feedback/model answer slide
Lesson objectives
Key definitions for conform and subvert
Propp character theory recap task
Printable Propp character type matching task
Teacher feedback slide with Proppian character types
Lion King mini plenary to embed character roles
Hero vs villain characteristics sorting task
Word bank for character traits
Teacher feedback slide for hero/villain traits
Application task on Amy Silva and Kirsten Longacre in Vigil
Model feedback on how Vigil challenges the stereotypical hero
Application task on John Steed and Emma Peel in The Avengers
Model feedback on how The Avengers conforms to and challenges Proppian hero roles
Audience theory plenary comparing Vigil and The Avengers

This resource can be used as:

A full A-Level lesson on Propp’s character theory
An OCR Media Studies audience theory lesson
A crime drama theory application lesson
A lesson preparing students to analyse Vigil and The Avengers
A GCSE-to-A-Level transition lesson on narrative and character
A revision lesson on Proppian character roles
A scaffolded discussion and writing lesson
A Year 12 or Year 13 Media Studies lesson

This resource is provided as a fully editable PowerPoint (.pptx) file.

This resource is independently created and is not endorsed by OCR.