In the beginning was the word, and it was oral. Word of mouth passed on legends, legends, tales, and epics. Probably everyone, even a very small number of people, has them. In Ancient Russia, for example, fairy tale and epic are of paramount importance in the oral creativity of the people. Similarities and differences between the forms, of course, are found, although both of them are initially perceived as oral works, the author of which is the people. What is the difference? Let's figure it out!
Fairy tale and epic. Similarities and differences
According to the classification of researchers of oral folk art, they embrace and embody various areas of culture, differ in the aesthetics of needs and perceptions. We will analyze the similarities and differences in more detail.
Definition of V. G. Belinsky
A classic of Russian literary criticism very subtly defined in his statements what a fairy tale and epics are, the 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 it on a certain high pedestal and wants to awaken the same reverence among the audience. In a fairy tale, the poet aims to occupy the attention of the reader or listener, to amuse and entertain. So, in the first case, we have the importance of narration, the absence of irony and jokes, sometimes pathos. In the second, the narrator internally laughs at his narrative, as if not believing what he is talking about, which is especially characteristic of many Russian fairy tales.
What is the difference?
The similarities and differences between fairy tales and epics can be identified in several key nodes. The tale is mostly based on fiction. The epic has a completely different display. The very name “bylina” itself gives the author’s attitude to what is being described, as to realities. That is, this is what happened, but in ancient times immemorial (another popular name for such works is characteristic - antiquity, that is, what was deep in antiquity).
Where do the events take place?
In the classical epic, actions almost always occur in Russia. In a fairy tale, events can take place in a kingdom, a fiftieth state (but this is not necessary).
Similarity
The fairy tale reflects the image of a Russian person in terms of morality, his life and ideals, the struggle against evil in all its manifestations: real and fantastic. Considering such forms of folklore as a fairy tale and epics, the similarities and differences between them, it must be said that the theme of the fight against evil combines both literary forms, although its different types are sometimes implied. Of course, truth and justice, their restoration is the basic idea of many epics and fairy tales. With all the differences in the works between them, rapprochement among the people can occur. This can also explain the fact that among the epics there are works that have a fabulous coloring and character. But some epics come even closer to fairy tales in their essence, as they have an ironic or comic tone in the narrative, where by proximity to the fairy tale the epic acquires an already entertaining character. But at the same time, epics of this kind (rather atypical 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.
Epic and fairy tale: similarity and difference. Table
To better understand the topic under discussion, you can bring a small table.
Similarities | Differences |
Fairy tale | Bylina |
Form of Russian oral folk art | Fantastic narrative of a domestic or magical character | Description of the heroic deeds of the heroes |
Both genres exist since ancient times | Prose Work | Song and poetic form |
They were told, told, sang | Fiction | Generalized transmission of events of antiquity |
Originally existed only verbally |
Reflected the fight against evil and moral values |
It reflects the main similarities and differences of the literary forms of folk art.