Trickster Traits in the Folklore Image of Mazan-Batyr

Abstract

This paper focuses on one aspect of the image of Mazan-batyr, a popular hero of Kalmyk folklore. Kalmyk tales represent Mazan as a cunning hero, able to trick his opponent instead of using strength and martial skills. The article examines Mazan as a Trickster and places the structure of legends and tales associated with Mazan-batyr against the context of the Trickster narrative. Mazan’s Trickster behavior is part of his meta-textual image; it manifests itself in his own actions, actions of other characters, and verbal descriptions given by storytellers. The tricks that often recur in the stories of Mazan are analyzed separately. The article analyzes these tricks on semantic level, compares them to each other as well as summarizes recurrent motifs. Finally, it draws parallels between the trickster actions of Mazan-batyr and similar episodes from different epic traditions. Attention is paid to typological parallels as well as direct overlaps between stories. The essay argues that the presence of the Trickster traits in folklore portrayal of Mazan-batyr may be explained by the influence of oral heroic poetry.

Keywords

• Mazan-batyr
• trickster
• historical tales
• legends
• Kalmyk Folklore