Актуальные проблемы изучения нартского эпоса

Abstract

The research aims to identify the main issues in the study of the Nart epic and to reveal the picture of the epic universe by providing insight into archaic semantics of mythoepical images, motifs and episodes. The paper analyses approaches to solving the issue of determining the national primary basis of the epic. The paper addresses the inconsistency of determining the original core of epic tales based on typologically similar plots and motifs; identifies the plots and motifs in the Nart legends of the Ossetians reflecting the three-part model of the world; substantiates the necessity of studying the Nart mythological worldview in all the national versions in order to clarify their relationship. Scientific novelty of the research lies in proposing a new approach to determining the primary basis of the epic through the analysis of the Nart mythological worldview in the national versions. The research findings have allowed the author to determine the plots and motifs characterising the national features of the Nart mythological worldview in the epic tales of the Ossetians. Revealing the Nart worldview makes it possible to distinguish between the national and the typological features of plots and motifs, which in turn helps to identify the genesis of the national versions of epic tales.