Principles of creating the image of a fox in Russian fairy tales about animals recorded in Siberia and the Far East

The article, based on an analysis of research literature, as well as a comparative method and cultural commentary, analyzes fairy tales about animals recorded in the 19th (collection of A. N. Afanasyev, 44 texts) and 20th (“Russian fairy tales of Siberia and the Far East: Magic. About Animals”, 13 texts) centuries, reveals the features of the creation of the image of a fox in the considered works. 45 plots with which this character is associated are analyzed, 9 of the most stable of them, preserved in the tales of Russian settlers to Siberia and the Far East, are identified: 15; 158+1+2+3+4; 155; 20A+21; 170+158; 103; 1+130; 61A; 61B, also in Russian fairy tales about animals, recorded in Siberia and the Far East, very rare plots for the Eastern Slavs are found: 31; 51A*; 56A; 6, which are also associated with the image of a fox. The principles of creating the image of a fox are characterized: 1) the name and addresses of other characters to her; 2) character; 3) speech; 4) characterization of the fox given by other characters; 5) features of the relationship between the fox and wild and domestic animals, as well as with humans; 6) actions and actions characteristic of a fox; 7) motives associated with the image of a fox. Modifications of these principles can be traced in later records made in Siberia and the Far East: a change in the nature of the interaction of the fox with humans and some animals (both wild and domestic); the emergence of a new motive for trade (in addition to such stable motives associated with the image of the fox as greed, gluttony, mischief, pretense, cunning, death of the fox through tearing/cutting). In addition to the atypical motif among the regional components in the records of the 20th century. The emergence of new characters interacting with the fox (milk mushroom, magpie, goat), a reflection of the natural features of a particular region, is noted. The good preservation in the texts of the settlers of what was discovered in the records of the 19th century is proven. a complex of archaic ideas about the fox, characteristic of the traditional picture of the world of the Eastern Slavs: the fox as a demon; fox as a female hypostasis; fox as a negative and positive image (trickster). Loss in 20th century texts The ancient idea of the connection between the image of a fox and fire is probably due to frequent observations of the habits of specific animals and the influence of everyday realities.