Vladimir Propp was a Russian folklorist and scholar, best known for his analysis of Russian fairy tales. Born in 1895, he developed a structuralist approach to storytelling, identifying common narrative elements and functions that appear across various tales. His work, particularly in his book "Morphology of the Folktale," laid the foundation for modern narrative theory. Propp's analysis categorized characters and their roles, such as the hero, villain, and helper, demonstrating how these elements interact within a story. His insights have influenced not only folklore studies but also fields like literature, film, and narrative analysis, making his contributions significant in understanding storytelling.