Type, motif and basic element index of the Kestenga Karelians historical prose

Abstract

The article presents an index of the types, motives and basic elements of the legends recorded among the Kestenga Karelians on the territory of the modern Loukhsky district in the Republic of Karelia, and also partially in the Kandalaksha district in the Murmansk region. The identification of the legends’ motives was carried out based on the Scientific Archive of the Karelian Scientific Center RAS and the Phonogram Archive of the Institute of Linguistics, Literature and History of the Karelian Scientific Center RAS archival materials, as well as published notes and articles of travelers who visited the studied region in the 19^th – 20^th centuries. In total, 120 texts of legends were involved in the work, among which one can single out cycles about the settlement and development of the region; the aboriginal regions; treasures; the fight against external enemies; robbers. The index is compiled on the basis of the corresponding index developed by N.A. Krinichnaya in the field of Russian historical prose. The index contains 18 types of motives, within which the main versions and elements are highlighted. With respect to the original index, some versions of the motifs have been corrected, some versions have been added. The compilation of an index of motives based on the material of Karelian prose was undertaken for the first time, which determines the novelty and relevance of this work.