Vladimir Propp suggested in 1928 that in any story there are only ever a limited number of character types, each of which has their own purpose in the narrative.
Hero
The central protagonist of the narrative. Centralises in some kind of quest or mission undertaken in return for a reward. Traditionally male eg, Superman, Batman, Spiderman.
Heroine or Princess
These act as a reward for the hero for succeeding in the quest.
Villain
The villain seeks riches, glory and power, as well as seeking to stop the hero from succeeding in the quest or mission while presenting a genuine threat.
Donor or Mentor
Gives the hero important information or equipment to help them in their quest. They are often represented as wise or as having special powers but are not able to do the quest without the hero.
Helper
This character accompanies the hero for some or most of the journey of the quest, and can even help the hero to succeed, but cannot by themselves complete the quest.
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