The Grateful Dead: Motif of Assistant in Kalmyk Folktales of AT Type 508

Abstract

Introduction. In the Kalmyk folktale tradition, AT type 508 (The Grateful Dead) develops through the motif of miraculous helper. The analysis shows that the main character pays some debt of the deceased one — to acquire an assistant. Goals. The study examines the motif of assistant in Kalmyk folktales clustering with AT type 508 (The Grateful Dead). Materials. The paper analyzes folktale texts published in Clear Script (Kalm. todo bičiq), Roman characters, and modern Kalmyk Cyrillic. Results. Before a long journey, the hero offers his servant to partake of some food which is a test for the latter: any refusal from the viands of humans shall indicate the companion belongs to the spirit world. The magic nature of the hero’s assistant is also manifested through his abilities to move at extremely high speed and understand the language of animals. And it is due to the latter gift that the assistant hears a dog and a cat’s conversation — to prompt the young man a remedy for the Khan’s daughter. Cat bile acts as medicine in all versions of Kalmyk folktales related to the type ‘Grateful Dead’. A. Afanasyev notes bile serves as medicine for the resurrection and eyesight recovery in the Russian fairy tale ‘Yeruslan Lazarevich’, emphasizing the ‘linguistic and mythical connection’ between — sunshine, glitter of gold, and the yellow color of bile. Being aware of the trouble, the grateful dead person protects his savior and the latter’s spouse from the snake venom. When accused of encroachments, he confesses all his good deeds (massacre of seven cannibal demons, their daughters, wives, and the former’s old mother) and sets outs towards the world of the dead ruled by Erlik Nomin Khan. The hero decides not to leave his assistant and follows him up to hell. Kalmyk folktales of the mentioned type are distinguished by description of trials experienced by the main character and his assistant in the realms of the dead. Possessions of Erlik Nomin Khan — the lord of the dead — are depicted in accordance with ideas of Buddhist hell traced in Oirat written monuments, such as The Story of Chojid-Dagini, The Tale of Molon-Toyin, The Tale of the Goose-Lama, The Tale of Naranu Gerel etc. It is the descriptions of Buddhist hell that distinguish the international type ‘Grateful Dead’ in the Kalmyk oral tradition through the motif of miraculous helper. Conclusions. The motif of helper in the considered folktales unfolds on the basis of traditional ideas with that earlier views were replaced by later Buddhist ones.

Keywords

• kalmyks
• magic folktale
• plot
• grateful dead
• motif
• magic helper