The plot-compositional features of the olonkho by C. N. Karataev "Syuyulledjin Bootur"

The subject of the study in the article is the plot-compositional structure of the Yakut heroic epic. The object of the study is the olonkho "Sylledjin Bootur" (1940) by S. N. Karataev from the Vilyui region. The poetics of the olonkho plot as a whole, particularly the plot structure and composition, have not yet been sufficiently analyzed. The relevance of the study is determined by the need for a systematic study of the epic heritage of the storyteller S. N. Karataev and the identification of the artistic uniqueness of his olonkho, which represents a standard example of the Vilyui epic tradition. The aim of the work is to study and identify the features of the plot-compositional organization of the olonkho "Sylledjin Bootur" in the context of Yakut epic heritage. The results of the study can be used in folklore studies when addressing the poetics of epic texts, as well as in the preparation of educational and methodological materials on Yakut folklore. The work employs methods of structural, structural-semantic, and comparative analysis. The main methodological development is the plot model of the epic proposed by I. V. Ershova. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the first systematic analysis of the poetics of the olonkho "Sylledjin Bootur" by S. N. Karataev and the determination of the specifics of the plot-compositional organization of the Vilyui epic tradition in comparison with other regional versions of Yakut epic. As a result of the research, it was established that both texts of the olonkho by S. N. Karataev are independent epic narratives. It was determined that "Sylledjin Bootur" represents a transitional form of epic – from archaic tales of ancestors to later epics about the protectors of the tribe. The text combines the motif of heroic matchmaking with the theme of struggle against demonic forces, and also preserves archaic elements: intra-family conflicts and the image of a female hero. It was revealed that the introduction in olonkho plays a key role, determining the further development of the plot and organizing the composition of the epic. The introductory part of the olonkho "Sylledjin Bootur" shows significant similarity to the introduction of the legend "Hero Tong Saar" in composition and formulaic nature. The proposed plot model (heroic collision (motivation for departure); preparations for the heroic campaign; journey; obstacles along the way; heroic deed; consequences of the deed; return to the homeland), reflecting the semantics of ordering chaos in the cosmos, can be used for the analysis of other olonkho texts.