A Semiotic Analysis Of Shrek: a real fairy tale? Vis-à-vis traditional fairy tales (Sleeping Beauty)

Fairy Tales : The way we know them

Why we chose fairy tales?

The analysis of the fairy tales heard by all of us since childhood leads to an analogy between the language structure (langue) and the narrative. • a sequence of stability-disruption-stability.

The Langue•Good guy, damsel in distress, the sidekick/ friends, the evil witch/ knight/ king, the obstacle, the concerned parents

Shrek as a fairy tale

The story

Shrek is a fearsome green ogre living in the swamp , which is invaded one day by banished fairy-tale creatures.

They are banished by Lord Farquaad, who desires to become the King and his only chance of doing so is marrying Princess Fiona.

Princess Fiona is entrapped in a castle guarded by a love-lorn , ferocious Dragon.In order to win back his privacy from the evil Lord Farquaad Shrek undertakes the task of rescuing

Princess FionaHe is accompanied ,much to his reluctance, on this task by the feisty ,talking Donkey

But…

Shrek as a story breaks the stereotypesand

Establishes a new parole (comedy)

Concepts used

Langue and Parole

Syntagms and Paradigms

Paradigmatic Analysis•Signifier and Signified (through replacement)•Binary Opposition (in Character portrayal)

Background Reading : Vladmir Propp

Parent

King & Queen

King & Queen

Evil

Witch Maleficent

Lord Farqwuaad

Heroine

Aurora

Fiona Donkey

HelperObstacle

Poisoned Spindle

Dragon

Hero

Prince Phillip

Shrek

Syntagmatic Axis : Romantic Fairy Tale

Para

digm

atic

Axis

Com

edy

Path

os

Horse

Paradigmatic Analysis : What we did

Character 1 Character 2 Character 3

Scene 1 Scene 2

Scene 3

1. Define Signifiers and their Signified in Shrek

2. Compare and contrast to establish “value” of the Significance

3. Result : Prove the significance of the story lies in “value” of Signifiers and their signified

Shrek: the Ogre as hero

Signifier :the OgreSignified:

– Green – Ugly– Unhygienic– Ferocious – Violent – Terrorizing– Selfish

Signifier: the heroSignified:

– Peaceful– Calm– Noble– Diplomatic– Non-violent– Compassionate– Attention averse

Fiona: the princess

Signifier: princess

Signified: – Damsel in

distress– Waiting for her

prince charming

– Hopelessly romantic

– Beautiful– Sophisticated

Signifier: ogre princess

Signified: – Spunky– Fiery– Brave– Witty– Martial arts

expert– Outspoken

Donkey: the Sidekick

Signifier: donkey (animal)

Signified:– Friendly– Beast of burden– Dumb– Dependant– Docile

Signifier: donkey (the sidekick)

Signified:– Witty– Comical– Talkative– Persistent– Irritating

Shrek Vs Prince Phillip

Foina Vs Aurora

Donkey Vs Royal Steed

Paradigmatic Analysis : What Emerged

• Signifiers in Shrek are un-substitutable – break Stereotypes – multi layered characters.

• The film emerges as an entirely unique parole keeping the langue of the fairytale intact

Thank You

Questions ?

Group 14– Ankita Rojindar– Ila Khanolkar– Nalini Veeraghanta– Nitasha Nair– Priyanka Vahini– Ritu Banerji