Revisiting Propp's Morphology as a Blueprint for Generating Russian Folk Tales
Pablo Gervas
International Journal of Computational Linguistics Research, Vol. 16, No. 3, 2025.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6025/ijclr/2025/16/3/109-126
Link: https://www.dline.info/jcl/fulltext/v16n3/jclv16n3_3.pdf
Abstract:
This paper is not just an analytical tool, but as a potential blueprint for generating Russian folk tales. It
argues that while Propp's formalism has inspired many story generation systems, its specific procedural aspects
for generation have been largely overlooked or misapplied, often leading to limitations. The authors propose
a computational implementation focusing on Propp's core concepts: character functions, their sequence, and
dependencies. They develop a system using plot drivers (function sequences), fabula generators (instantiating
functions with actions linked by preconditions/postconditions), and flows (final story representation).
Evaluation focuses on structural adherence and continuity, demonstrating that methods employing unification
and accommodation yield more cohesive narratives. The paper concludes that a declarative, modular approach
based closely on Propp's original procedural description is viable for generating structurally sound tales within
the specific domain of Russian folklore, offering potential for adaptation to other narrative structures.