Proppian Analysis Comparison

Narrative Theory

A Proppian Analysis Comparison of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" & "Die Hard"

Eight Character Roles

Hero - John McLain
         - Indiana Jones
Villain - Hans Gruber & Blonde German Guy
            - Belloc/Nazis
Donor - villain with the radio and gun
           - Marion (amulet/medallion)
Helper - Chauffeur Argile & the black Cop
            - Marion/Falah
Princess - Holly McLain
              - Marion/Ark
Father - The Police
           - Government/University(God?)
Dispatcher - Christmas (The holiday period)
                  - Government Officials/University 
False Hero - Hans Gruber/ TV Anchorman Thorn-berg  
                  - Belloc (Saves Marion from Nazis)/Government

31 Functions

Preparation 

1) John McLain sets of to Los Angeles
1) Jones leaves university to find ark
2) Lift and doors locked down
2) He left Marion in the past/hates snakes
3) Villain, Hans Gruber, comes to the party
3) Sees Marion (later...snakes)
4) Hans Gruber asks around for who Takagi is
4) Nazies visit Marion
5) Find out who is he
5) Jones gets medallion 
6) Hans Gruber is mistaken for a Terrorist by Takagi
6) Nazies get Marion/Food is poisoned 
7) Takagi asks to be shot by Hans
7).....?

Complication

8) Hans does shoot him
8) Monkey dies/Needs staff/Needs map/Loses Marion
9) McLain overhears Takagi being interrogated
9) Goes to look for site of the map
10) McLain sets off the fire alarm
10) Finds where they should be digging

Transference

11) McLain goes to the top part of the building where it is still being built
11) Goes to site of the dig
12) Kills Heinrich and gets a radio and detonator
12) Finds map
13) Puts a note on the body "I have a machine gun ho-ho-ho
13) Reads hieroglyphs
14) Uses the radio to contact the Police and the chauffeur
14) Uses staff & medallion
15) Encounters Hans in the room with the glass door 
15) Finds location of the ark

Struggle

16) Shootout in the room with the glass on the floor (So he can't walk)
16) Jones fights Nazis
17) John gets glass shards in his feet
17) Jones gets a split lip/Gets shot
18) McLain shoots the vilains (In the room with the glass)
18) Nazi gets chopped up by aircraft propeller/Planes explodes/Defeats Nazis
19) Hans gets the detonators back, but McLain escapes
19) Jones escapes/Gets Marion/Gets Ark

Return

20) McLain returns to the place of safety (The bathroom)
20) Jones returns to village/Boards ship 
21) The vilains catch McLain near the top floor near the explosives
21) Caught by U-Boat
22) McLain hangs the vilain (Karl) with the chains
22) Hides in ship's funnel. Captain says he's dead
23) Tells the hostages to get down and it mistaken for a terrorist 
23) Not recognised by the Nazis (He's in uniform)
24) FBI thinks he is a terrorist and orders the gunships to open fire on him
24) Belloc says blow up the Ark
25) McLain has to escape from the roof from the FBI using the fire hose
25) Does Jones rescue Marion or get the Ark?
26) McLain escapes and rescues his wife, Holly
26) Jones & Marion escape 

Recognition

27) McLain meets the Cop and is recognised as a hero
27) Jones is recognised
28) Dwaine is shown to be an idiot
28) Government is exposed
29) McLain is given a new coat
29) Government locks up the Ark
30) Karl is killed, and the journalist gets punched
30) Nazis and Belloc are dead
31) McLain is reunited with his family and goes home in the limousine 
31) Jones & Marion go for a drink