Obraz gerojev-triksterov i ich social’naja rol’ v russkich, belorusskich, bolgarskich, češskich skazkach i fol’klore

Title in English The image of trickster heroes and their social role in russian, belarusian, bulgarian, czech fairy tales and folklore
Authors

DANYIOVÁ Alena STALYANOVA Nadezda

Year of publication 2025
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source LINGUARIUM UNIVERSE
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Arts

Citation
web https://zenodo.org/records/15755130
Doi https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15755130
Keywords trickster heroes; fairy tales; folklore; russian tales; belarussian tales; bulgarian tales; czech tales
Description This article examines the images of trickster heroes in fairy tales from several Slavic peoples, including Russian, Belarusian, Bulgarian, and Czech fairy tales. Each nation has its own folklore trickster - a hero-trickster who triumphs by cunning and wit. The hero-trickster can perform actions that do not obey the general rules of behaviour. The trickster often breaks the rules through various tricks, stratagems, or theft. Trickster heroes can be cunning, or stupid, or they can combine both of these qualities. This publication provides examples of the most popular trickster heroes in the folklore and folk tales of various nations, including Tricky Peter, Nesterka, Ivan the Fool (also known as Ivanushka the Fool), Lisa Patrykeevna, and Silly Honza. The images of trickster heroes in folk tales and folklore from different nations share several standard features. Firstly, they are, as a rule, poor people occupying the lowest social position. They have neither power nor wealth, which means that cunning, sharp wit, and apt words are their only weapons. Secondly, tricksters perform the function of violating social norms; they overturn established social orders, bringing chaos with their pranks, jokes, behaviour, and deceit. The reader perceives these trickster heroes as positive characters in fairy tales.
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