Folklore - what is it? Main characteristics

There is not a single person in the world who does notliked folk tales, songs and dances. In them you can find everything - spontaneity, sparkling humor, subtle sadness and daring joy. And, probably, the most important thing that attracts a modern person in them is the unique charm of antiquity and a certain nostalgic aroma of ancient antiquity. So, folklore - what is it and what are its main features?

Basic definition

Folklore is called collective creativitypeople, expressing his worldview and ideals, as well as serving as a complete reflection of his mentality. Usually this is the verbal creation - bylinas, tales, proverbs, conspiracies, riddles. Considering the question of folklore - what it is, it is impossible not to mention the very meaning of this word. In the translation "Folk-lore" - literally "folk wisdom" or "popular knowledge". In use, this term was introduced in 1846 by the English explorer William Toms.

In our country, an enormous contribution to the study of thisMany enlightened people contributed to the field of culture - M. Lomonosov, A.S. Pushkin, G. Derzhavin, N. Roerich, I.I. Shishkin and many other writers, artists, historians and scientists. After the revolution, much attention was paid to the question of what folklore - what Maxim Gorky was. It was thanks to this main proletarian writer that the main problems of Soviet folklore were developed.

Main characteristics

So, folklore - what is it and what are itssigns? The main distinctive features of folk art can be called letterlessness, verbality, of course, the collectivity and deep traditionalism. This, in fact, is the only area of ​​culture to which the state and the government can not exert absolutely no influence. For centuries, tales, legends and legends have been passed from father to son. In addition to the literary sphere, mentality and tradition are also manifested in all other areas of folk art - in dance, music, etc.

Basic varieties and genres of folklore

The main genres of literary folk art include the epic, the riddle, the proverb and the lament.

Oral tradition, dance, crafts and songs are the maina variety of folklore proper. In this case, it is worth highlighting its ritualistic views. This area of ​​art usually has pagan roots and appears as a kind of juxtaposition of the new religion. However, this is not always the case. For example, in the years of the USSR, when any cults were banned, Christian ritual folklore showed itself very strongly. In this light, national creativity can be considered a reflection of even a kind of confrontation between the common people and the authorities, and any one.

Works of folklore reflect the experiencemillennia. And regardless of what stage of social development is a particular people, fairy tales and bylinas are one of the most valuable sources of knowledge of its history. Perhaps the Russian pet of fate Ivan the Fool, the beautiful Vasilisa, the villain Koschey Immortal, the Greek Prometheus and Hercules, the German Freyja, the Scandinavian trolls, etc. can tell about what events took place on earth in antiquity, much more than it may seem at first glance.

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