The "Contastorie" (Storyteller) handles epic themes reciting them while the "Cantastorie" handles the same theme through songs, what is more it is important to remember the "Jongleurs", they popularized the French Chansons des Gestes in southern Italy. The Opra dei Pupi is characterized by the transmission of a series of very ancient codes of conduct, among these are: the sense of honor, chivalry, the defense of justice and faith etc...

Il termine "Puparo" sta ad indicare colui che si occupa dello spettacolo dei pupi. Il puparo utilizzando un particolare timbro di voce crea atmosfere caratterizzate da una certa suggestività e cariche di tensione che vanno a caratterizzare peculiarmente le scene epiche oggetto della rappresentazione. Il Puparo recita a canovaccio, ossia esegue una recitazione basata sull'improvvisazione che si estrinseca seguendo una traccia della trama. In passato la rappresentazione terminava con la farsa, uno spettacolo di marionette in cui vengono utilizzati dei toni licenziosi e allegri di personaggi che erano tratti dalla tradizione favolistica siciliana. Talora i pupari comunicavano anche dei contenuti poco graditi alle autorità utilizzando il "Baccagghiu" (baccaglio) un gergo noto ai malavitosi.

The term "Puparo" means one who is involved in the puppet show. The puppeteer using a particular tone of voice creates a suggestive atmosphere full of tension that characterize the peculiarly epic scenes. The Puparo performs a drama based on improvisation following a canvas. In the past, the performance ended with a farce, a puppet show in which licentious and cheerful tones were used by people who were taken from the fabled Sicilian tradition. Sometimes the puppeteers also talked about contents unwelcome to the authorities by using the "Baccagghiu" (baccaglio) which is a jargon known even by gangsters.

Depending on the school's membership the puppets can perform different movements. The puppets of the school of Palermo are lightweight and adjustable but are difficult to handle, they measure about eighty centimeters high, an iron bar is placed in them passing through the torso and the head, in order to support them, then there is another iron bar placed in the right arm that allows it to move a wire running through a closed hand allows the puppet to pull off and put back the sword. Then there is a wire connected to the puppet left knee, which allows the puppet to kneel, to articulate a step etc. The puppets of the school of Catania are heavier, have fixed limbs, but are easy to handle. These puppets are characterized by their height, which is around four feet or thirty inches, there is a major iron bar and a secondary one that allows the puppeteers to move the puppet's right hand which carries the sword. As already stated the arts are not articulated, the puppet of Catania school shows a structure very high and very heavy, which can reach up to 16 kg, this situation implies a certain difficulty in handling, the puppeteers in fact work on axles called bridge which is placed behind the backdrop.