21. Pursuit: Hero is chased

Disciplines > Storytelling > Propp's Morphology of the Folk Tale > 21. Pursuit: Hero is chased

Description | Discussion | See also

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Description

Symbol: Pr

During the journey home, the hero may be pursued by some aggressor who may seek to recover the treasure or perhaps just eat the hero! The victorious procession may well turn to flight. The hero has completed the mission and gained the treasure, and it may not be prudent to stand and fight.

The pursuit may also be a race home with a competitor, perhaps a false hero, with the victor gaining the final reward.

Example

In Star Wars, Empire Tie fighters chase the Millennium Falcon as it escapes the Death Star.

Discussion

Pursuit is a common theme in many parts of stories and provides us with a reminder that the hero is human and that sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.

Pursuit on the last leg home also indicates that stories perhaps never really end and that we can never completely relax.

Pursuit can also be pleasurable in some way. If somebody else is chasing us, then they are recognizing us in some way and indicating that we have some worth.