Poetics of the final part of the olonkho of the Vilyui epic tradition

The relevance of this study stems from the need for a systematic study of the poetics of the olonkho's final section as a whole. Unlike the northeastern tradition, where the epic's ending has already been studied, the Vilyui epic tradition has not yet been systematically examined in this regard. The aim of this article is to systematically examine the poetics of the olonkho's final section in the Vilyui epic tradition. The research objectives are aimed at identifying the following aspects of the olonkho's final section: its compositional role, its place in the narrative structure, and the specific application of epic poetic and stylistic devices. The study utilizes methods such as a systemic analysis of olonkho poetics, structural analysis, and continuous sampling. It was revealed that in epic traditions, the ring-shaped composition with its restoration of harmony serves a meaning-making function, while a happy ending, embodying the archetypal model of world order renewal, is a necessary element of the poetics. Furthermore, the fragmentary nature of texts is determined by external factors of recording, rather than by the peculiarities of the tradition itself. Despite apparent similarities, the ending contains quite diverse motifs and typical passages, which are determined by the plot-thematic type and the evolutionary features of olonkho poetics. It was determined that the final section of the olonkho is built on the stable motifs of a happy ending. However, an analysis of the Vilyuy tradition reveals variability: alongside archaic elements, later additions are also recorded. It was established that in the Yakut heroic epic olonkho, the ending, based on a system of epic formulas and typical places, is not simply the conclusion of the plot, but a meaningful compositional unit. In the Vilyuy tradition, it ranges from expanded, multi-stage versions to brief conclusions. The research aims to compare the poetics of the final sections of various epic traditions to form a holistic picture of the phenomenon under study. 

Acknowledgements: Author gratitude to Shared core facilities of the Federal Research Center ‟Yakutsk Science Center SB RAS” for the opportunity to conduct research on the scientific equipment of the Center.

Funding: The article was carried out within the state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation No 075-00619-26-00 for 2026, research project No. 124030100136-9

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