Motif to destruction of the monster-abaasy in Yakut olonkho in comparative analysis with the Buryat epic

Abstract

The motif of destruction of the monster-abaasy of Yakut olonkho in comparative analysis with Buryat uliger is considered. The Yakut material was the texts of olonkho, published in Samples of folk literature of Yakuts by E. K. Pekarsky (1907-1918). The Buryat source chose different versions of the street Geser, published in 1960-1968. The plot of the fight between the hero and his opponent is the culmination of the content of both olonkho. Of course, the main character always wins the antagonist, because this is the meaning of the heroic epic. The motif fund with the description of the enemy's destruction is as cardinal as the motif of the fight. The mortally dangerous enemy dies at the hands of the main character olonkho, and a completely undestroyed dead body comes to life, continuing to create evil and chaos. Famous researchers of Turkic-Mongolian folklore noted common features of olonkho and uliger (V. M. Zhirmunsky, E. M. Meletinsky, S. Yu. Neklyudov, I. V. Pukhov, G. U. Ergis, V. V. Illarionov, etc.). But comparative works in the field of Turkic-Mongolian folklore continue to arouse interest and require research from different sides. Study of the motif of destruction of monsters of the Yakut and Buryat epic has not yet been conducted. The aim of the research is to determine the motif of destruction of enemies of the Yakut olonkho hero, as well as to describe similarities and differences with the Buryat epic. The work uses the methodology of textological analysis using descriptive and comparative methods. The author reveals several general points in the studied motif: methods of burning the corpse; resurrection of the monster from the remains of bodies; method of burying the horse together with the monster. The victory of the main character and the destruction of the monster shows the idea of triumph of justice, the supremacy of good over evil, light power over dark. And in the beast's ability to be immortal is the philosophical idea of the eternal struggle of good and evil, which remains unchanged to this day. The similarity of motifs of Yakut and Buryat epics contributed to the decision to expand the research material and attract epic texts of other Turkic-Mongolian peoples.

Acknowledgements: The research was conducted in the framework of the research project of NEFU “Heroic epics of the Turkic-Mongolian peoples of Eurasia: problems and perspectives of comparative study”.

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