THE PUBLICATION OF THE EPIC MONUMENTS OF THE PEOPLES OF SOUTHERN SIBERIA IN A BILINGUAL ACADEMIC SERIES “THE EPIC OF THE PEOPLES OF THE USSR”

One of the Central problems of modern Russian folklore is the further development and improvement of methods and principles of textual research of works of different genres of folklore prepared for publication. First of all, it refers to the national heroic epic, widely represented in the artistic heritage of our multi-ethnic country.

In this regard, the experience of textual research of epic monuments of different peoples of our country, accumulated by Soviet folklorists, who prepared for publication volumes of bilingual academic series “Epic of the peoples of the USSR”, acquires a special value.

The article describes the experience of the Altai, Yakut and Khakass folklorists who prepared for publication in the series of the Altai heroic epic “Maadai-Kara”, the Yakut heroic epic “Obstinate Kulun Kullustuur” and the Khakass heroic epic “Altyn-Aryg”. The compilers of the volumes had at disposal asynchronical fixation of the material, this determined a different approach to its preparation. By no means unimportant was the preparation of introductory studies for each of these volumes. They included a brief reference on the history of the people, the history of its fixation. Publication and study, the creativity of its performers and custodians, the place of the monument in the folklore of the people who created it, its genesis, the system of its characters and poetics were characterized. “Comments”, “Notes” and “Dictionary” to each volume substantially enhance the introductory study. The study of this invaluable experience will make it possible to open new paths of textual research of epic monuments.

The publication of the monuments of the Altai, Khakass and Yakut epics in the bilingual academic series “The Epic of the Peoples of the USSR” not only duly presented these outstanding creations of the oral folk poetry of the peoples of Southern Siberia, but organically included them in the world epic context.

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