Folk tales

Auezov M. classified Kazakh tales into:

1) legends- philosophy

2) social tales- life style, morale and ethics 3) satirical- fight between good and evil, truth and lies

4) epic stories about heroes

5) fables for entertainment

Fairy tales

Are one of the most archaic forms of Kazakh folklore, exists in 3 major genre types: 1) fairy/magical tales; 2) routine tales; 3) tales about animals. The root traditions are based on the legends common for all the Turkic peoples, but particular Kazakh stratum was formed as the cultural mix/melting pot during the Persian/Arabic interlude and Mongol invasions. In the XV-XVIII centuries were formed fairy and routine tales, and a special cycle about wise man- Zhirenshe-sheshen (orator) and inventive liar Aldar Kose. The plots during the military conflicts were enriched by heroic epics.

Tales types: 1) about animals and their role in the nature, relations to humans and symbolic representation of the origin of human qualities: wit, wisdom, stupidity and courage, typical for children with the similar plots as in the tales of other peoples; 2) fables on the origin of things openly expressing the ideal; 3) with ethic content on the origin of society and its norms/problems represented directly the human world

Magical tales date back to the primitive society times, and many relics of the lifestyle, social organization (matriarchate), beliefs (animism, totemism fetishism, magic), rituals (kuvada, dual society, aunkulat, polyandry, polygamy), ethical and aesthetical visions, are clearly emphasized through the remarks on the origin. Magical tales are close to heroic epics, have prologue and epilogue, and deal mostly with the human actions in the broad social-historical content within the cosmic – salvation mission, fight between evil and good. The main hero is an idealized person, defender of the people’s interests and fighter against social injustice from the low social strata: hunter, shepherd, batyr, etc. The magical tales social context changed within the times- the main heroes evolved from a people’s defender into a successor of the tribal/clan traditions – younger son. The routine tales are big stories about with rich social context aimed to prove some morale or satirize evil – injustice, idle life, or rich people, that exploit the poor. The main heroes are popular Aldar-Kose, Zherenshe-sheshen, Qozhanasyr.

Riddles

Minor genre in form of poetical definitions of one or two phrases or lines, describing typical and specific features of natural and social phenomena, the people have to guess. Functions: educational (training of logic and imagination) and entertaining. Types: riddles and aitys-riddle (are created during the aityses by aqyns to complicate the task of the opponent). The most famous are riddles composed during aityes between Aset and Ryszhan, Sapargali and Nurzhan. The composition of riddles is close to proverbs and sayings, aphorisms and orator statements.

Persian influence- dastan

Dastan- (from Persian- story) epic poem, folklore interpretation of heroic myths, legends and fables. They usually tell about adventures in hyperbolized way, exaggerating the difficulties the idealized heroes have to solve. 2 types of dastan: folklore and literary. Dastans influenced the education, world outlook formation and arts of many Kazakh poets/aqyns, zurshy, and writers

Epics

“Er-Targyn” (Kazan, 1862), was recorded by N.Ilminsky from the words of aqyn Marabay.

Epic - one of the genres of oral folk art, originating in the early times from short tales and legends of Turkic times about heroes and their exploits. Most of epics were formed in Mongol and post-Mongol times (XIII- XIV centuries) during turbulent times when only strong people could survive and provide freedom and stability. Epics “Kara-bek”, “Yer Kokshe”, “Kobylandy-batyr” were created post XIII century. All the personages of epics were warriors - the models of military honor and heroism - both in the battlefields and in peacetimes. Epics’ narrators (zhurshy and zhurau) were also great warriors. Asan Qaigy was one of the influential statesmen and warlords of the Golden Horde principalities- of Ulu Mukhamed. “Oguz-name”- is common for the Turkic peoples, was created on the basis of the Oguz tribes’ legend about their military campaigns, leaders and way of life. It is known by the records of VIII century Rashiddin, later version – of Abylgazi (XVII century). “Mukhabat-name”- collection of epics created in XIV century by Turkic Kipshak tribes living along the Sur-Dariya River (Oguz-Kipshak tribes). The poetical version –dastan (created by poet Khorezmi) came in two linguistic versions- Old Turkic and Arabic. The second version lists some personalities (Janibek, Mukhambet, Qozhabek) from the Kazakh history.

“Yer-Targyn” - Kazakh heroic epic, but also refers to Nogay period historical legacy common for Tatars and Bashkirs, the content correlates with the historical events of XV century when the main hero Yer-Targyn – batyr, people’s defender, and fighter against invaders. He is accompanied by his beloved Aq-Zhynis. The main idea of the epic- unity between tribes for the common cause, end of inter-tribal rivalry. It was first recorded and published in Kazan (1862), N.Ilminsky from the words of aqyn Marabay