Plot Patterns in Manga Based on Propp’s Narratological Elements - Volume 3 - Pages 34-61

Aug 27, 2026

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This article applies Vladimir Propp’s structuralist narratological approach to manga plot strategies by generalizing Propp’s scheme and explaining how its elements interact. It adds new functions where necessary to show that Propp’s categories effectively support the study of recurring plot patterns in manga. Propp’s Morphology of the Folk Tale serves as the methodological foundation, justified by its adaptability beyond folk genres, and is operationalized here through shônen manga examples. The study also argues for manga’s validity as literary material, enabling formal critical analysis of plot development.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages28

Reading Time1 h 11 min

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Introduction

Research purpose and expected scheme

Cultural cross-bridge and scholarly motivations

Plot Patterns in Manga Based on Propp’s Narratological Elements Bogdan Groza, Adrian Momanu Volume 3, Pages 34-61 Abstract: This article considers how Vladimir Propp’s structuralist approach tonarratological elements can also be applied to the narrative strategies of manga. Through a generalization of Propp’s scheme, an in-depth explanation of how these elements interact with one another, and the addition of new functions where needed, this work demonstrates that these categories are functional for the study of plot patterns found in manga. Propp’s Morphology of the Folk Tale has been chosen as a basis for this study not only because of the particular versatility and adaptability that it possesses, but also because as Propp himself states, his work may also be applied to genres beyond folk tales: manga proves a particularly apt demonstration because most such works are similarly addressed to a younger demographic. For the purpose of this project, most of the examples provided derive from shônen manga, in order to provide for a clearer and singular point of analysis, rather than comparing manga subgenres too. In undertaking this analysis, the work also strives to emphasize that there is room for critical analysis in manga, not purely as a visual medium, but also as a literary one. An analytical approach, such as Propp’s framework makes possible, thus becomes a valuable means of discussing this rich body of work. Keywords: Comparative analysis, formalism, manga, narrative arcs, narratological elements, Vladimir Propp Author Bio: Bogdan Groza is currently doing his PhD at the faculty of Siena focusing on Ecocriticism and the Anthropocene in science fiction literature; the main authors he tackles are Philip K. Dick, Frank Herbert and Ayn Rand. Adrian Momanu is currently doing his Master’s degree in Modern Languages for International Communication and Cooperation at the University of Padua. His main areas of research are Russian literature and literary criticism, with a focus on Deconstruction and Derrida. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Generic License Introduction The purpose of this work is to analyze the narratological aspects of Japanese manga, particularly focusing on their use of certain comparable plot points. To do so, this work uses Vladimir Propp’s elements and his work on folk tales as a basis for comparison and primarily focuses on examples of shônen manga for this preliminary discussion. For the purpose of this research, said term will be used mainly – and admittedly, technically improperly – to indicate a genre, one that may be also called“battle manga”; to clarify, shônen in its most proper translation does not actually refer to a type of manga but rather to the demographic of readers (i.e., young teen males between 12 and 18), even if it is often used this way. The expected result of this analysis is that a generalization of Propp’s indicated elements will provide a scheme that will encompass most, if not all, narratological elements in shônen manga. The final objective is hence to delineate anew type of scheme, using Propp’s work as a basis and either modifying certain elements or creating others ad hoc when needed; with this newly revised scheme, it will be possible to better and more formally analyze the development of manga plots. Various examples from manga will be provided to exemplify the narratological aspects being named and expounded on. Future work may also consider how the criteria of the narratological scheme could also be applied to the study of more purely visual forms, especially when considering that in recent decades most anime based on manga follow a more step-by-step serialization of the original source material. The inspiration for this type of approach, combining a scholar such as Propp and cross-referencing his work on the Russian folktale with Japanese manga, derives from Marcello Ghilardi’s argument that: The comic str

FAQs

What framework does the article use to analyze manga plots?

The article uses Vladimir Propp’s narratological elements from Morphology of the Folk Tale as a basis for comparison and analysis of manga narrative structure.

Why does the study focus mainly on shônen manga examples?

It prioritizes shônen manga to provide a clearer, singular point of analysis for this preliminary discussion rather than comparing multiple manga subgenres.

What is the expected outcome of applying Propp’s elements to shônen manga?

The expected result is a generalized scheme that encompasses most narratological elements in shônen manga, allowing more formal analysis of how manga plots develop.

Aug 27, 2026

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