Vladimir Propp

Propp came up with the theory that in every narrative there is always certain people that can play certain roles, which consist of:

-The Hero: the hero usually leads the narrative and is usually on a quest or trying to solve something. 

The Villain: The villain is usually the character that tries to stop the hero from completing whatever quest they are on

The Princess: This is usually the 'prize' for the hero, normally what the hero is trying to conquer to get to.

The Princesses Father: This is an authoritative figure that offers the reward to the hero.

The Helper: Also known as the sidekick and helps the hero on his way

The Donor: this gives the hero something or a clue that helps them to complete their quest.

The False Hero: usually a rival of the hero, a competition that is not actually helpful, yet wants to be destructive.