Vladimir Propp

Propp was a Soviet formalist from Russia who analysed Russian Folk Tales too discover the simplest narrative elements. Propp had thirty-one narrative functions. These are:

Functions
After the initial situation is depicted, the tale takes the following sequence of 31 functions:^[2]

1. ABSENTATION: A member of a family leaves the security of the home environment. This may be the hero or some other member of the family that the hero will later need to rescue.
2. INTERDICTION: An interdiction is addressed to the hero. The hero is warned against some action.
3. VIOLATION of INTERDICTION. The interdiction is violated (villain enters the tale). This generally proves to be a bad move and the villain enters the story, although not necessarily confronting the hero. RECONNAISSANCE: The villain makes an attempt at reconnaissance  The villain (often in disguise) makes an active attempt at seeking information. They may seek to meet the hero, perhaps knowing already the hero is special in some way.
4. DELIVERY: The villain gains information about the victim. The villain's seeking now pays off and he or she now acquires some form of information, often about the hero or victim.
5. TRICKERY: The villain attempts to deceive the victim to take possession of victim or victim's belongings The villain now presses further, often using the information gained in seeking to deceive the hero or victim in some way, perhaps appearing in disguise.
6. COMPLICITY: Victim taken in by deception, unwittingly helping the enemy. The trickery of the villain now works and the hero or victim naively acts in a way that helps the villain. This may range from providing the villain with something (perhaps a map or magical weapon) to actively working against good people.
7. VILLAINY or LACK: Villain causes harm/injury to family member (by abduction, theft of magical agent, spoiling crops, plunders in other forms, causes a disappearance, expels someone, casts spell on someone, substitutes child etc., commits murder)
8. MEDIATION: Misfortune or lack is made known. The hero now discovers the act of villainy or lack, perhaps finding their family or community devastated or caught up in a state of anguish and woe.
9. BEGINNING COUNTER-ACTION: Seeker agrees to, or decides upon counter-action. The hero now decides to act in a way that will resolve the lack, for example finding a needed magical item, rescuing those who are captured or otherwise defeating the villain.
10. DEPARTURE: Hero leaves home.
11. FIRST FUNCTION OF THE DONOR: Hero is tested, interrogated, attacked etc., preparing the way for his/her receiving magical agent or helper.
12. HERO'S REACTION: Hero reacts to actions of future helper.
13. RECEIPT OF A MAGICAL AGENT: Hero acquires use of a magical agent.
14. GUIDANCE: Hero is transferred, delivered or led to whereabouts of an object of the search.
15. STRUGGLE: Hero and villain join in direct combat.
16. BRANDING: Hero is branded (wounded/marked, receives ring or scarf)
17. VICTORY: Villain is defeated.
18. LIQUIDATION: Initial misfortune or lack is resolved.
19. RETURN: Hero returns.
20. PURSUIT: Hero is pursued (pursuer tries to kill, eat, undermine the hero)
21. RESCUE: Hero is rescued from pursuit.
22. ARRIVAL: Hero unrecognized, arrives home or in another country.
23. UNFOUNDED CLAIMS: False hero presents unfounded claims.
24. DIFFICULT TASK: Difficult task proposed to the hero.
25. SOLUTION: Task is resolved.
26. RECOGNITION: Hero is recognized.
27. EXPOSURE: False hero or villain is exposed.
28. TRANSFIGURATION: Hero is given a new appearance.
29. PUNISHMENT: Villain is punished.
30. WEDDING: Hero marries and ascends the throne. (Reward)

Films such as Star Wards fit Propp's theory precisely, this theory is helpful as it highlights the similarities between seemingly quite different stories.