What happened in bylins? The definition of the epic

You do not need to be a philologist to notice that the words "epic" and "byl" are single-root words. Initially, the works of oral folk art, to which we give the definition of "epic", were called olden times. The present name they received in the XIX century with the light hand of the scientist, collector of folklore Sakharov, along the line from "The Lay of Igor's Campaign": "Begin to sing your songs for bygone times, and not according to the plan of Boyan!".

Bylins - byl?

Researchers of the "Lay of Igor's Campaign" give the following definition of the word "epic", which occurs in the work: "byl, what happened in reality." But in the bylinas it is told about the heroes who alone fight with the innumerable regiments of the adversaries. Explicit exaggeration and a fairy tale. Is it possible that a man with a higher university education who collected his folklore all his life and published articles on archeology and ethnography could be so mistaken, use such an incorrect definition of epic? A confused story, in which we try to figure it out.

What is epic?

The definition for schoolchildren is very accessible this explains: the ancient Russian heroic epic, whose heroes were heroes. The plot is a heroic event, where "our successfully beat the accursed invaders and oppressors of Russia." Written a special verse, called epic. This is a tonic verse in which the same number of stressed syllables per line.

Byliny: definition of the genre

The bells were performed by narrators, usually accompanying themselves on the harp, sang. Bylins were not recorded, and the authors who wrote them were unknown. Hence, these are epic songs related to oral folk art. These songs are unusual in that they lack rhyme, but many poetic turns (parallelisms, epithets, comparisons). Bylins consist of two parts: it is the beginning (as a rule, each storyteller had his own) and the work itself, what was defined as "epic". Due to the fact that the epics were not recorded, each narrator introduced something of their own in them, there are several versions of the song on the same story.

Historicism

Was there a real basis in the old epic songs? Was. Sakharov was right when he applied the definition of the word "epic" to antiquities. In any case, the grave of Ilya of Murom is real, is in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. There are specific references to another bogatyr - Alyosha Popoviche, who died in the Battle of Kalka. The Novgorod chronicle tells how another stylistic character, Stavr Godinovich, robbed two Novgorodians, for which he was punished by Vladimir Monomakh. Yes, and a description of the relationship, life, the terrain, where the actions of the epic occur, are strikingly accurate. But still do not forget that the epics are not chronicles, and they were sung from memory by many performers. After all, those who composed and sang them did not know the definition of "epic" and did not suspect that the time would come when all this would become an object for study. Therefore, there is not and can not be one hundred percent historicism in them.

The most famous epic heroes

The oldest of the epic heroes is Svyatogor. It is so great that it barely carries earth. Legends about him were formed even in the Dokiev period. Before his death Svyatogor passed his strength and weapons to Ilya Muromets.

The next three most famous heroes, whom we used to see on the Vasnetsov painting of the same name: Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich.

Muromets is the most famous of the heroes in Russian folklore, despite the fact that they told about him much later than about his companions on the Vynetsovsky painting. From his name it is clear that he was born in Murom. In the epics describing his life, the place of birth is mentioned: the village of Karacharovo. The narrators described him as the most powerful of the three heroes, wise and experienced, a gray-bearded warrior.

Dobrynya Nikitich is the most diplomatic of the trinity. An expert negotiator. Known as a serpent. The homeland of this epic hero was Ryazan.

Alyosha Popovich - the youngest of the valiant three. He was born in the family of a priest in the city of Rostov. Heather, likes to joke, pokurazhitsya over the enemy. Oster on the tongue. As they say, young-green. By the way, until now the personality of Alyosha raises controversies among researchers of epic creativity and historians. The fact is that the mention of Popovich's death is in the chronicle when describing the battle on the river Kalka. This was discussed above. But in the annals annals he fell under the name of Alexander. Now scientists are racking their brains, which is primary: the chronicle, and then the epic about the young hero, or the epic, and then the record in the chronicle. This dispute is principled, because if first there was a chronicle, the epic were formed about a real warrior.

Influence epic on Russian culture

Great. Invaluable. By and large this sub-theme can be devoted to a separate article.

Reflection of epic creativity we find in the tales of A.S. Pushkin, in the poetic ballads of A. Tolstoy.

Who does not know the second symphony of Borodin, which is called "Bogatyrskaya"? Since we're talking about music, how can we not remember the opera "Sadko" by Rimsky-Korsakov?

The theme of epic antiquity and heroes inspired Vasnetsov, Vrubel and Bilibin.

That is, we can confidently assert that the epic is a deep, inexhaustible source of inspiration in creating colorful images of Russian knights, and also in describing the ancient times of Rus.