What does the word epic mean?  epic is what epic is: definition - philosophy.nes

Bylina- poetic epic (narrative) genre of folklore. At the center of the epic is a hero defending his land from enemy invaders, or a successful, rich merchant, symbolizing the wealth of the Russian land.

Cycles of epics

There is no clear point of view on the question of the time and place of the origin of epics. It is believed that epics arose approximately in the 9th-10th centuries. southern territories ancient Russian state and from there they came to the north of Rus'. The epics became most widespread only in the 13th – 15th centuries. There is a point of view according to which epics came to Rus' from the East.

Bylinas are usually divided into two cycles: Kyiv and Novgorod. In the epics of the Kyiv cycle, the ancient Russian heroes are at the center of the narrative (Ilya Muromets, Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich), who defend the ancient Russian cities of Kyiv, Rostov, Murom from foreign invaders, who are conventionally called Tatars or embodied in the image of the Pogany Idol. All images in the epic are extremely generalized. Russian hero is not specific person, a real person, and collective image the ideal ancient Russian warrior, possessing unprecedented strength, wisdom, a sense of justice and always ready to stand up for his native land.

The epics of the Kyiv cycle generally reproduce real historical events. The ancient cities, located in the south and in the central part of the ancient Russian state, were constantly besieged and captured by the Tatars, Polovtsians, Pechenegs and other nomadic warring tribes. Old Russian princes, who ruled the cities, were disunited, i.e. were at enmity with each other. They did not want to defend their native land together. But there were always wars, heroes who gathered an army and led it against the enemy. People composed epics about such heroes.

Epics Novgorod cycle tell about the wealth of Novgorod - shopping center, which was located in the North of the ancient Russian state, about the talent and prowess of the Russian people, which was embodied in central image Novgorod epics- merchant Sadko, who defeats the underwater king.

Main researchers and collectors of epics

The main collectors of epics: Kirsha Danilov, Kireevsky, Rybnikov, Hilferding, Avenarius, Khalansky, Shein, Kostomarov and Mordovtseva, E.V. Barsov, Efimenko.

Researchers of epics: K. S. Aksakov, F. I. Buslaev, L. N. Maikov, V. V. Stasova, Veselovsky, Kotlyarevsky, Rozov, O. Miller, D. Kvashnin-Samarin, Yagich, B. Putilov.

It is impossible to determine the exact age of this or that epic, because they took centuries to develop. Scientists began to record them en masse only after 1860, when a still living tradition of performing epics was discovered in the Olonets province. By that time Russian heroic epic has undergone significant changes. Like archaeologists removing one layer of soil after another, folklorists stripped texts of later “layers” in order to find out what epics sounded like a thousand years ago.

It was possible to establish that the oldest epic stories tell about the clash mythological hero and the Kyiv hero. Another early plot dedicated to the matchmaking of a hero to a foreign princess. By the most ancient heroes Svyatogor and Volkh Vseslavyevich are considered Russian epics. At the same time, people often introduced contemporary characters into archaic plots. Or vice versa: an ancient mythological character, at the will of the narrator, became a participant in recent events.

The word “epic” came into scientific use in the 19th century. The people called these stories antiquities. Today, about 100 stories are known, which are told in more than 3,000 texts. Epics, epic songs about the heroic events of Russian history as an independent genre took shape in the 10th–11th centuries - in the era of its heyday Kievan Rus. On initial stage they were based on mythological stories. But the epic, unlike the myth, talked about political situation, about new statehood Eastern Slavs, and therefore, instead of pagan deities, they acted historical figures. The real hero Dobrynya lived in the second half of the 10th - early 11th centuries and was the uncle of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich. Alyosha Popovich is associated with the Rostov warrior Alexander Popovich, who died in 1223 in the battle on the Kalka River. The holy monk lived, presumably, in the 12th century. At the same time, the merchant Sotko was mentioned in the Novgorod chronicle, who turned into a hero of Novgorod epics. Later people began to correlate the heroes who lived in different time, with a single epic era of Prince Vladimir the Red Sun. The figure of Vladimir merged the features of two real rulers at once - Vladimir Svyatoslavich and Vladimir Monomakh.

Real characters in folk art began to intersect with the heroes of ancient myths. For example, Svyatogor supposedly got into the epic from Slavic pantheon, where he was considered the son of the god Rod and the brother of Svarog. In the epics, Svyatogor was so huge that the earth did not support him, so he lived in the mountains. In one story, he met with the warrior Ilya Muromets (“Svyatogor and Ilya Muromets”), and in the other, with the tiller Mikula Selyaninovich (“Svyatogor and the Earth’s Thrust”). In both cases, Svyatogor died, but, remarkably, not in battle with young heroes - his death was predetermined from above. In some versions of the text, when he died, he transferred part of his power to the hero of the new generation.

Another ancient character is Volkh (Volga) Vseslavyevich, born of a woman and a snake. This werewolf, great hunter and sorcerer is mentioned in Slavic mythology as the son of Chernobog. In the epic “Volkh Vseslavyevich,” Volkh’s squad set off to conquer a distant kingdom. Having penetrated the city with the help of witchcraft, the warriors killed everyone, leaving only young women for themselves. This plot clearly refers to the era of tribal relations, when the ruin of one tribe by another was worthy of praise. In more late period When Rus' repelled the attacks of the Pechenegs, Polovtsians, and then the Mongol-Tatars, the criteria for heroic prowess changed. The defender began to be considered a hero native land, and not the one who waged a war of conquest. In order for the epic about Volkh Vseslavyevich to correspond to the new ideology, an explanation appeared in it: the campaign was against the tsar, who allegedly planned to attack Kyiv. But this did not save Volkh from the fate of a hero of a bygone era: in the epic “Volga and Mikula,” the werewolf sorcerer was inferior in cunning and strength to the same peasant Mikula, who appeared in the epic about Svyatogor. New hero defeated the old one again.

By creating a heroic epic, the people presented outdated stories in a new light. Thus, the later epics of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries were based on a revised new way motive of matchmaking. In tribal relations, marriage was the main responsibility of a man who had entered into adulthood, as many myths and fairy tales told about. In the epics “Sadko”, “Mikhailo Potyk”, “Ivan Godinovich”, “Danube and Dobrynya woo a bride to Prince Vladimir” and others, the heroes married foreign princesses, just as in ancient times brave men “obtained” a wife from a foreign tribe. But this act often became a fatal mistake for the heroes, leading to death or betrayal. You need to marry your own people and generally think more about service, and not about personal life- such was the attitude in Kievan Rus.

Every event significant for the people was reflected in epics. The surviving texts mention realities from the era and, wars with Poland and even Turkey. But the main place in epics, starting from the 13th–14th centuries, was occupied by the struggle of the Russian people against the Horde yoke. In the 16th–17th centuries, the tradition of performing epics gave way to the genre of historical song. Until the 20th century, the heroic epic lived and developed only in the Russian North and in some regions of Siberia.

The report on epics will briefly tell you a lot useful information about the epic songs of the Russian people about courageous heroes. Also, based on our article, you can prepare a message about epics for grade 7 literature.

Message about epics

What are epics?

The epics are epic, Russian folk songs which tell about heroic deeds courageous heroes. They often describe heroic events and exploits in which the people took part. The word “epic” means “old times,” that is, something that happened far in the past. Epic how literary genre is not subject to reliable accuracy. The events described in them are often exaggerated to emphasize the exceptional courage of the heroes - heroes.

They play very important role in the literary national process, as they represent the Russian epic and pass on to all generations knowledge about the traditions, beliefs and life of their ancestors.

When were epics created?

It is known that the epics are based on events that took place in the 10th – 12th centuries. Therefore, they began to be formalized in writing in the 14th century. Moreover, each generation added something of its own to the plot. Until that time, epics existed in oral form and were passed on from generation to generation.

Classification of epics

There is a consensus on the classification of epics in modern literary studies does not exist. Traditionally, they are divided into 2 groups: the Kyiv and Novgorod cycles. The epics of the Kyiv cycle describe events occurring during the reign of Grand Duke Vladimir. We all know the heroes of these works: Mikhailo Potyk, Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich, Alyosha Popovich, Churilo Plenkovich. Bogatyrs are divided into senior and junior. The older heroes (Volga, Mikula Selyanovich and Svyatogor) play the role of wise mentors of the young heroes. They represent courage, strength and bravery. Scientists have conducted research and proven that heroes are real people who lived many centuries ago.

When was the first collection of epics published?

The first collection of Russian epics was published in Moscow in 1804. The publication was extremely popular in society. After graduation Patriotic War this Russian epic has become integral part heritage of the literary genre. Today there are 80 Russian epics, which, unfortunately, have disappeared from everyday life modern man. They exist only in form literary works.

Epics interesting facts

• Bylinas were written in tonic verse with two to four stresses.
• The term “epics” was introduced by Ivan Sakharov in his collection “Songs of the Russian People” in 1839. He proposed it based on the expression in “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” as “according to epics,” which meant “according to the facts.”
• The word "hero" Turkic origin, where exists in different forms: bahadir, bagatur, bagadur, bator, batur, batyr, baatar. It means “valiant warrior”, “hero”.
• It is reliably known that Ilya Muromets decided in his old age last days end your life as a monk. He took monastic vows at the Feodosievsky Monastery (modern Kiev Pechersk Lavra). Here he was buried and later canonized. Having examined the relics, scientists discovered that the hero’s height was 180 cm, and his spine was deformed.
• There are about 30 heroes in Russian folklore.

We hope that the message about epics in literature helped you. A short story You can add information about epics using the comment form below.

Epics- folk songs about exploits heroes, preserved in the north of Russia in the memory of singer-storytellers. Epic songs in which heroic events are sung. The epics artistically summarized the reality of the 11th-16th centuries.

Epics were recorded mainly in the 19th and 20th centuries in the Russian North - their main custodian: in the former Arkhangelsk province, in Karelia, on the Mezen, Pechora, Pinega rivers, on the White Sea coast, in the Vologda region. In addition, starting from the 18th century, epics were written down among the old-timers of Siberia, the Urals, the Volga and in the central Russian provinces. Echoes of epics were preserved in Cossack songs on the Don, Terek, Lower Volga, and Urals.

The content of epics is varied. About 100 stories are known to science; in total, more than 3,000 texts have been recorded with variants and versions, a significant portion of which have been published. Usually epics are heroic or novelistic in nature. Idea heroic epics– glorification of unity and independence Russian land, in novelistic epics marital fidelity and true friendship were glorified, and personal vices were condemned. Bylinas condemned social injustice and the arbitrariness of princely power. The people called the epics “old”, “starinka”, “starinushka”. The term “epic” is purely scientific; it was proposed in the first half of the 19th century by I.P. Sakharov. The word "epic" was taken by him from the "Tale of the Regiment" and artificially used to mean folklore genre to emphasize its historicism.

When singing certain events in epics, storytellers never became like chroniclers; they did not strive to convey a chronicle sequence of events, but depicted only the central moments. The singers were attracted not by an accurate recording of history, but by the expression of its popular assessments, the reflection of popular ideals.

The epics conveyed the names of real-life persons: Vladimir Svyatoslavich and Vladimir Monomakh, Dobrynya, Sadko, Alexander Popovich, Ilya Muromets, Polovtsian and Tatar khans (Batu, Tugorkan). So the epic prince Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko combined Vladimir Svyatoslavich and Vladimir Monomakh. Dobrynya Nikitich, uncle of Vladimir Svyatoslavich, lived in the 10th and early 11th centuries. There are chronicle mentions of him. For example, the epic Dobrynya is the matchmaker of Vladimir Svyatoslavich. The historical Dobrynya played this role in 980, when Vladimir decided to marry the Polotsk princess Rogneda.

In the 12th century In Novgorod there was a merchant named Sotko. Sadko is a hero of Novgorod epics.

Ilya Muromets is mentioned in Russian written sources in the 16th century, and in German oral tradition he has been known since the 13th century. According to some legends, in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra there was a tomb with the relics of Ilya Muromets. The rise of Ilya Muromets over other heroes was facilitated by the fact that he came from North-Eastern Rus', which from the 12th century began to play a leading role among the ancient Russian lands.

Putilov. Russian historical song folklore.

Epics are works whose plots are the result of fiction. This fiction is always based on historical reality, but not in the form of specific events and facts. An epic is an artistic generalization historical experience people of an entire era. In this generalization, the historical ideals of the people are in the foreground.

HISTORY OF THE COLLECTION. A significant difficulty is created by the fact that we have not reached us, and perhaps there were no records of epics before the beginning of the 17th century. The oldest B. records are only 300 years old. Taking into account the inevitable variability of any folklore text in oral transmission from generation to generation, we have to admit that even our most ancient records of B. did not preserve B. in their original content and form. Later recordings of epics, made by learned collectors from the mouths of the people in the 18th-20th centuries, quite naturally included a number of even further “layers” and were subject to greater or lesser changes and additions from a long series of generations of individual storytellers. Restoring the original appearance of each B. and its further evolution can be (and then relatively) done only on the basis of a careful comparison and comparison of all the variants of B. that have come down to us, both old and new records.

This explains why learned folklorists value so much every old manuscript with an epic text and every new B. entry on the same plot. There are only about 40 B. stories, but records of B. texts have now accumulated over 1,500 issues.

The oldest recording of Russian epic songs is a recording of historical songs, almost contemporary with the events sung in them, made for the Englishman Richard James, who lived in Russia in 1619-1620. Actually, B. texts in manuscripts of the 17th century. We got five. The oldest handwritten text is “The Legend of the Kyiv heroes, how they went to Constantinople and how they beat the Constantinople heroes and did themselves honor” (at the end of the text this “Tale” is called the “Heroic Word”). This and similar handwritten texts from B. XVII century. must be considered together with other handwritten B. texts XVIII And early XIX centuries

From the middle of the 18th century. A wonderful collection of epics has reached us, compiled by the Cossack Kirsha Danilov for the Ural rich factory owner Demidov and containing over 70 songs.

The discovery of the riches of the Russian B. epic falls on the 60-70s. XIX century In 1861-1867, “Songs collected by P. N. Rybnikov” (224 B. issues) were published, and in 1872 - “Onega B.”, recorded in 1871 by A. F. Hilferding (318 issues).

During 1862-1874 issues were published posthumous work“Songs collected by P.V. Kireevsky” (total 11 volumes).

two collections: N. S. Tikhonravov and V. F. Miller. The then young learned collectors made trips beyond B. to different parts of this vast province; as a result, science has been enriched by detailed collections of biographies: A. V. Markov, “Belomorskie Byelorussia”, M., 1901 (116 issues); A. D. Grigoriev (424 issues in total), “Arkhangelsk B. and Historical Songs”, vol. I, M., 1904 and vol. III, M., 1910 (volume II was not published) and N. E. Onchukova, “Pechorsky B.”, In the Saratov region (M. and B. Sokolov and others - 24 issues), in Siberia (Tan-Bogoraz, Gulyaev and others - 27 issues); quite significant B. material was recorded by Don Cossacks, Terek, Ural, Orenburg (collections of Listopadov, Arefin, Dogadin, Zheleznovs, Myakushin, Pankratiev, Karpinsky - information about all these records is combined in the article by V.F. Miller - “Cossack epic songs of the 16th and 17th centuries” in his “Essays” folk literature", vol. III, M., 1924).

Classification of epics:

heroic epics will differ from B. short stories, as they have long been Vs. Miller differentiated by content. In heroic epics, the movement is characterized by centripetal force towards the main thing acting person- to the hero. It does not always develop linearly, but very often with sudden shifts in the opposite side. The favorite technique of the heroic B. is the technique of antithesis (Ilya, despite the warning sign at the crossroads of three roads, travels along them and with his actions refutes these warnings; Dobrynya does not listen to his mother’s instructions and bathes in the Puchai River, etc.). Similar to the technique of antithesis in the development of action in heroic epics, we see the same technique of contrast in the organization of the image of B. heroes. At the beginning of B. the hero is underestimated, even discredited, the enemy seems more significant than him, stronger, then all this 13 is immediately refuted by the further, especially the final moment of the heroic B.: the hero alone deals with a hostile force of many thousands. For example, such couples as Ilya and Idolishche, Potanya and Kostryuk, Dobrynya and the Serpent, etc. are depicted in contrast. various shapes hyperbolization as appearance epic heroes both their attributes and their actions and exploits.

B. short stories (Churila and Katerina, Alyosha and Dobrynya, Khoten Bludovich, etc.), in contrast to heroic B., include significantly more elements of purely dramatic action. Various forms of dialogue play a significant role in the poetics of poetry, and in heroic and military poetry, dialogue, or direct speech in general, is less common than in short story poetry, for which the dialogical form of presentation is largely a formal sign of a special style. genre. Dialogue performs an essential dynamic function in the structure of fiction - it significantly moves the action in fiction.

Epics are also combined into cycles:

By time

By territory

By heroes

Kyiv and Novgorod cycles

Ticket 27. main plots of Russian epics. Novgorod and Kyiv cycles.

Plots of epics. Quantity epic stories, despite the many recorded versions of the same epic, it is very limited: there are about 100 of them. There are epics based on the matchmaking or struggle of the hero for his wife ( Sadko, Mikhailo Potyk, Ivan Godinovich, Danube, Kozarin, Solovey Budimirovich and later - Alyosha Popovich and Elena Petrovichna, Hoten Bludovich); fighting monsters ( Dobrynya and the snake, Alyosha and Tugarin, Ilya and Idolishche, Ilya and the Nightingale the Robber); the fight against foreign invaders, including: repelling Tatar raids ( Ilya's quarrel with Vladimir, Ilya and Kalin, Dobrynya and Vasily Kazemirovich), wars with Lithuanians ( An epic about the raid of Lithuanians).

Satirical epics or epic parodies stand apart ( Duke Stepanovich, Competition with Churila).

The main epic heroes. Representatives of the Russian “mythological school” divided the heroes of epics into “senior” and “younger” heroes. In their opinion, the “elders” (Svyatogor, Danube, Volkh, Potyka) were the personification of elemental forces, epics about them uniquely reflected the mythological views that existed in Ancient Rus'. The “younger” heroes (Ilya Muromets, Alyosha Popovich, Dobrynya Nikitich) are ordinary mortals, heroes of a new historical era, and therefore are endowed with mythological features to a minimal extent. Despite the fact that serious objections were subsequently raised against such a classification, such a division is still found in the scientific literature.

Images of heroes are the people's standard of courage, justice, patriotism and strength (it is not for nothing that one of the first Russian aircraft, which had an exceptional carrying capacity at that time, was named by its creators “Ilya Muromets”).

Epics are divided into:

Kyiv.

Epic Kyiv is a symbol of the unity and state independence of the Russian land. Here, in the courtyard of Prince Vladimir, the events of many epics take place. The military might of Rus' is personified by heroes. Among heroic epics those in which Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich act are put forward in first place. These main defenders of the Russian land come from three classes: peasant, princely and priestly. Bylinas sought to present Rus' as united in the fight against enemies.

Ilya – peasant son, originally from the village of Karacharova near the city of Murom. Until the age of thirty, he was sick - he could not use his arms or legs. The poor wanderers healed Ilya and gave him unprecedented strength. Ilya’s enormous power should benefit all of Rus', so he rushed to Kyiv. Along the way, he accomplished his first exploits: he defeated enemy troops near Chernigov, and cleared the road from the robber nightingale.

After Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich is most loved by the people. This is a hero of princely origin, he lives in Kyiv. The main work of his life was military service to Rus'.

Dobrynya’s heroic feat is depicted in the epic “Dobrynya and the Snake” - a story about how on the Puchai River Dobrynya fought off a snake with one hat, knocking off three of its trunks. The snake begged and offered to make peace. Dobrynya released the snake, but then saw how it grabbed the prince’s daughter and went to rescue her. This time the battle was long, but Dobrynya won.

Bylina, according to V.P. Anikina, this is “ heroic songs, which arose as an expression of the historical consciousness of the people in the East Slavic era and developed in the conditions of Ancient Rus'...” The images of Russian epics are also reflected in music in many ways. He won’t take it by force, but by cunning,” they say about him in epics.

Bylinas, as a rule, are written in tonic verse with two to four stresses. At the center of many Russian epics stands a figure Prince of Kyiv Vladimir, who is sometimes identified with Vladimir Svyatoslavich. As a result, one-sided theories gave way to mixed ones, allowing for the presence of elements in epics folk life, history, literature, borrowings from Eastern and Western.

All about Russian epics!

The epics are written in tonic verse, in which there may be different quantities syllables, but approximately the same number of stresses. The number of songs also increases due to the fact that there are several versions, more or less different, of the same epic. All epics, in addition to the unity of the subject described, are also characterized by the unity of presentation: they are imbued with elements of the miraculous, a sense of freedom and, as Orest Miller noted, the spirit of community.

The time of creation of epics

The epics retain a fairly large number of archaisms, especially in the typical parts. Epics are composed on the basis of formulas constructed either using stable epithet, or as narrative cliches of several lines. The latter are used in almost any situation.

To give an idea of ​​the number of epics, let us note their statistics given in Galakhov’s “History of Russian Literature.” All known epics are usually divided according to their place of origin: Kyiv, Novgorod and all-Russian (later). Chronologically, in first place, according to Orest Miller, are epics telling about matchmakers. Then come those called Kyiv and Novgorod: apparently, they arose before the 14th century. Then there are completely historical epics, dating back to the Moscow period of the Russian state.

The last two categories of epics are not of particular interest and do not require extensive explanation. Strictly speaking, both of these methods in most studies are reduced to one comparative one, and it is hardly correct to refer here to the historical method.

This is mainly the basis of the historical-everyday theory, which completely loses sight of the similarity of the plots of Russian epics with the works of other peoples or considers it a random phenomenon. Khalansky joined this opinion, and now the study of epics has been put on the right point of view.

Finally, as Orestes Miller notes, the great antiquity of epics is proven by the fact that they depict a defensive policy, not an offensive one. As for the place where the epics originated, opinions are divided: the most widespread theory assumes that the epics are of South Russian origin, that their original basis is South Russian. And another Russian scientist, Khalansky, proves that the epic about Nightingale Budimirovich is in the closest connection with Great Russian wedding penalties.

Russian heroic epic. Epics.

That the epics have undergone many and, moreover, strong changes, there is no doubt; but it is currently extremely difficult to indicate exactly what these changes were. If an essential property of epics is historical timing, then the less noticeable it is in an epic, the closer it comes to a fairy tale. Thus, the second process in the development of epics becomes clear: confinement.

Russian folk epic “Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Robber”

On the other hand, Maikov notices in epics a desire to smooth out the miraculous. But initially the content of the epics was completely different, namely truly historical. Orestes Miller does not entirely agree with this, arguing that the Christian element in the epic concerns only appearance. It remains to be said about one side of the epics, namely their current episodic, fragmentary nature. Home Epics Honor-Praise Characters Children Site Map When using materials from this site, a link to Byliny.Ru is required.

Epic stories often describe heroic events in which our people took part, because the word “epic” itself means “old times,” that is, what happened in the distant past. This literary genre does not have reliable accuracy: in order to emphasize the exceptional courage of the heroes - heroes, some of the events described in the epic were significantly exaggerated.

Classification of epics

The heroes of the epics of the Kyiv cycle have been familiar to us for a long time: Ilya Muromets, Mikhailo Potyk, Dobrynya Nikitich, Churilo Plenkovich, Alyosha Popovich. All heroes of epics are divided into older and younger heroes. In the era of romanticism, which came after the end of World War II, Russian epics became an integral part literary heritage. In the middle of the century, the popularity of epics caused a surge of interest in folklore and its collection in all corners of Russia.

Collecting epics

Today there are about 80 Russian epics. Unfortunately, Russian epics have completely disappeared from the life of our people, and exist only in the form of literary works. The emphatically solemn style of presentation of the epic, which tells about heroic and often tragic events, determined the need to slow down the action (retardation). The language of epics is characterized by hyperboles, with the help of which the narrator emphasizes the character traits or appearance of the characters that are worthy of special mention.

The epic about Sadko is divided into three relatively independent parts. In the first, guslar Sadko, having impressed the sea king with the skill of his playing, receives advice from him on how to get rich. In some versions of the epic, Sadko wins, in some, on the contrary, he is defeated, but in any case he leaves the city due to the intolerant attitude of the merchants towards him.

V.Ya. Propp believed that the most ancient are the plots associated with the hero’s matchmaking and with snake fighting. The largest number of epics that have come down to us dates back to the period from the 11th to the 13th–14th centuries. They were created in the southern Russian regions - Kyiv, Chernigov, Galicia-Volyn, Rostov-Suzdal. In the 17th century epics are gradually beginning to supplant the translated romance, adapted for Russian audiences, meanwhile they remain popular folk entertainment.

Finally, the theory of borrowing is based on the 3rd explanation, according to which the plots of Russian epics were transferred to Russia from the East and West. And finally, epics related to events of later times. These are the so-called epics about “elder” heroes, associated with mythology.