5. Delivery: The villain gains information

Disciplines > Storytelling > Propp's Morphology of the Folk Tale > 5. Delivery: The villain gains information

Description | Discussion | See also

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Description

Symbol: z (zeta)

The villain's seeking now pays off and he or she now acquires some form of information, often about the the hero or victim. Other information can be gained, for example about a map or treasure location or the intent of the 'good guys'.

Example

In Star Wars, Darth Vader is looking for the escape pod and spots the droids.

Discussion

This is a down point in the story as the pendulum of luck swings towards the villain, creating fear and anticipation that the villain will overcome the hero and the story will end in tragedy.