Wonderful objects in Karachay-Balkarian magical fairy-tales and Nart tales

The article presents the results of a comparative analysis of wonderful objects, found in the texts of magical and magical-heroic fairy-tales and the Nart epos of the Karachais and Balkarians. The main purpose of the work is to identify, systematize and describe the basic body of objective realities, that have supernatural properties, to determine the specifics of their implementation in the works of the designated segments of Karachay-Balkarian folklore. Using a continuous sample strategy, the texts of magical and magical-heroic fairy-tales and Nart tales featuring references to wonderfulobjective realities were identified. This study also employed descriptive, axiological, structural, and comparative analysis methodologies. It has been established that the spectrum of wonderful objects in magical fairy-tales is significantly broader, and the hero’s contribution to triumph is more significant, than in Nart tales. The main methods of acquiring objective realities with supernatural qualities in the heroic epos are acquisition through force or cunning, abduction; in fairy-tale texts, cases of donation and inheritance are not uncommon. It is concluded, that the disclosure of the functional capabilities of certain wonderful objects, the features of their implementation depend on the basic settings of the work, in which they are used: in the Nart epos these processes are subordinated to heroic pathos, and in fairy-tales – a focus on embodying the idea of the obligatory victory of good over evil. The presented research in the future will contribute to a further, more in-depth study of the poetics of Karachay-Balkarian magical fairy-tales and the Nart epos, the creation of more complete classification schemes of wonderful objects, and the collected information can serve as a basis for conducting comparative research with folklore material of other peoples.

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