Fairy tale and epic. Similarities and differences in oral folk art

In the beginning there was a word, and it was oral. From the mouth to mouth, legends, legends, tales, bylinas were transmitted. They are, probably, for everyone, even a very small number of people. In ancient Russia, for example, a fairy tale and epic are of primary importance in the oral creativity of the people. Similarities and differences between forms, of course, are found, although both are initially perceived as oral works, the author of which is the people. What is the difference? Let's understand!

Fairy tale and epic. Similarities and differences

According to the classification of researchers of oral folklore, they embrace and encompass various areas of culture, differ in the aesthetics of needs and perceptions. Let's analyze the similarities and differences in more detail.

Definition of VG Belinsky

The classic of Russian literary criticism very subtly defined in his statements what a fairy tale and epic are, similarities and differences of these forms in literature. In the poem (epic), the author, as it were, expresses respect for the subject of the description. He always puts him on a high pedestal and wants to awaken the listeners the same awe. In a fairy tale, the poet pursues the goal of taking the reader's or listener's attention, amusing, amusing. So, in the first case, we have the importance of narration, the lack of irony and jokes, sometimes - pathos. In the second case, the narrator laughs inwardly at his narrative, as if not believing what he says, which is especially characteristic of many Russian fairy tales.

What is the difference?

The similarity and difference between a fairy tale and an epic can be determined in several key nodes. The fairy tale is mostly based on fiction. In the epic, a completely different mapping. Already the very name of "epic" gives the author's attitude to the described, as to the realities. That is, this is what happened, but in the old times immemorial (it is characteristic of another popular name for such works - the old, that is, what was in the old days deep).

Where do the events occur?

In the classical epic, actions almost always take place in Russia. In a fairy tale, events can take place in a certain kingdom, the thirtieth state (but this is not necessary).

Similarities

The fairy tale depicts the image of a Russian person from the point of view of morality, his way of life and ideals, the fight against evil in all its manifestations: real and fantastic. Considering such forms of oral folk art as a fairy tale and epic, similarities and differences between them, it must be said that the theme of the struggle against evil unites both literary forms, although sometimes its various kinds are implied. Of course, the truth and justice, their restoration - the main idea of many epics and fairy tales. With all the differences in the works between them, rapprochement among the people can take place. This can also explain the fact that among the epics there are works that have a fairy tale color and character. But some epics even closer approach to fairy tales in their essence, since they have an ironic or comic tone of narration, where from the proximity to the fairy tale the epic finds an entertaining character. But even so the epics of this kind (rather untypical for the Russian epic) were not purely entertaining in their genre. They expressed morality and popular thought, an assessment of the actions and characters of the characters.

Bylina and a fairy tale: similarity and difference. Table

To better understand the topic under discussion, you can give a small table.

It reflects the main similarities and differences in literary forms of folk art.