Nogai fairy tale epic: genesis and evolution of genres

Abstract

The article summarizes some observations made by the author on the texts of authentic materials and gives conclusions related to the genesis, history of evolution, characteristics and distinction criteria of Nogai fairy tale epic genres: fantasy fairy tales, animal fairy tales, and home-life fairy tales. Based on well-known works of researchers-structuralists, relics of ancient rituals and rites, myths, and ancient beliefs surviving to the present day are highlighted in the texts of Nogai fairy tales, while also emphasizing their relationship with the social history of tribes and peoples. Since the genesis of folklore genres dates back to a quite distant pre-national period, and as the genres undergo then a long process of evolution common to many peoples, the Nogai tale is studied as part of the world and Turkic fairy tale epic. Observations and conclusions are illustrated with materials taken from the original texts of multi-genre Nogai fairy tale prose. A significant place is given to unpublished archive materials and newly recorded texts of Nogai fairy tales.

Keywords

• волшебная сказка
• сказка о животных
• бытовая (новеллистическая) сказка
• ритуал-обряд
• миф
• религиозные воззрения
• социальные институты (инициация)