Primeval Extract

In this extract we find that peoples characteristics can differentiate from what society expect from them because of their gender and other aspects. We can also categorise people by using Propp’s narrative functions.

The blonde woman in the extract carries out typical men jobs like holding a gun and operating a JCB. Unlike the other brown haired woman being threatened by the man with the dogs, the blonde haired woman is wearing outdoor clothing. Therefore she instantly gives us the impression that she is not a typical woman as she battles with a big sabre-tooth. Stereotypically society would think that she don’t act like a typical woman, because in her situation, battling with a sabre-tooth is something a woman would not do as, any other woman would scream and cower away. According to Propp’s narrative characters this woman could be the false hero as at the start she tries and saves the man she’s with and it makes the audience think she is the hero, but it’s possible she could be the princess/damsel in distress also as she is saved by the man she’s with.

The man running away and distracting the sabre-tooth creature is wearing outdoor men clothing which is typical of a man. At the start of the extract he carried wood, this is a job that a man would do. He also shouts at the creature and battles with it, this is manly behaviour. Whilst running from the creature he used his belt to get away, this is also manly behaviour as we associate belts with men as it’s more common for a man to wear a belt. According to Propp’s narrative characters this man is the hero as he risks his own life to save others, and he is the main character shown at the beginning of the extract. As a man and a hero he takes control of the situation.

However the man that was lowering meat onto of a trap made on the floor didn’t look like he was wearing typical outdoor clothing like the other men. This not only shows that he could be of a different class but it shows he has different fashion sense to the other men, this proves that characteristics can differentiate from what society expect men to wear. But his behaviour such as carrying the meat, picking up the shovel, his stance, walk and his facial features show us his gender. This man could be the Helper as he helps the hero in their pursuit to find the smartly dressed woman as she’s in danger.

The man wearing the suit seems to be from a higher class because he is wearing a suit and not doing the work the other people are doing. By him wearing this suit it makes him look more masculine, controlling and powerful this is how gender is represented. From Propp’s list of narrative characters this man could be the father figure as he seems to be an older man than the rest of them and he gives the hero and other characters advice, information and guidance.

Furthermore the man who owns the dogs with the shotgun is also wearing manly outdoor work clothing. The shotgun and the big dogs show masculinity as well as his male gender, and his behaviour gets threatening and violent towards the woman this shows power, force as well as his gender and all of these things are trades and characteristics of a man. This man is seen as the villain judging from Propp’s narrative characters.

The woman all dressed up shown towards the end of the extract is wearing typical womanly clothing unlike the blonde haired woman. And she also complains about her coat getting dirty whereas the blonde haired woman was doing mens work so she wouldn’t mind getting muddy. This woman shows typical womanly characteristics because when she gets shoved to the floor we see she is vulnerable, weak and subordinate, but when she is saved and her life is no longer at risk she is narcissistic and cares only for her coat and herself. The smartly dresses woman is shown to be the princess/damsel in distress as she is put under a weak and vulnerable situation because of the villain.

Therefore throughout this extract it is shown that not all people are archetypes for example; some women can have male characteristics, shown through the things the blonde haired woman does. And all the props, body posture and appearance etc. can represent gender and what we think about that particular person. This extract also shows that not everyone are archetypes, the ‘original model’, everyone is different in their own way, shown by what they do, what they wear, and how they act etc. Propp’s narrative characters shows narrative structure and that most stories have these characters.