Magic objects with the semantics of “viewing the universe” in the Khakas’ heroic tales

Abstract

The relevance of this topic is due to the need for a detailed, systematic analysis of the semantics, role, and function of specific magic objects in the Khakas’ heroic tales. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that magic objects and tools, in particular with the semantics of “viewing the universe”, are subjected to detailed research for the first time. The purpose of this study is to identify and describe magic objects with the semantics of “viewing the universe”. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: to identify and describe stable poetic descriptions using the example of magic objects with this semantics; with a detailed analysis of specific magic objects, to identify similarities and differences in the texts of different storytellers; to determine the degree of reference to the epic plot and motifs. Descriptive, structural and semantic, comparative methods were used in the work. The category of magic objects under consideration includes: a sun mirror, a moon mirror, an aira (a bat), a jack-knife, a needle (needle eye). With the help of magic objects such as a kyun kyostik (a sun mirror) and an ai kyostik (a moon mirror), characters of an epic can see what is happening at any distance. Most often, in the texts of epic narratives, there is a jack-knife with nine sockets or a jack-knife with twelve sockets. Sometimes, the functions of a golden jack-knife coincide with the functions of a magic sun mirror. The mystery of a mirror reflection is completely transferred to a jack-knife. The power of a jack-knife to reflect light and shine gave it the same magical features and likened it to the magical features of a mirror. Despite the fact that the golden bat has magical features, nevertheless it does not possess the power of omniscience. This magic object is associated with the motifs of the hero’s departure from home in search of his parents and to battle with enemies, which compositionally forms the beginning of the action. The needle is used as one of the elements of military games. This magic object is associated with the motifs of difficult tasks and conditions for their solution, trials and other feats of the hero.

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