MOTIF

MOTIF is a meaningful (sense) unit of a folklore text.

There are M-situation, M-action, M-image, M-characteristic, M-type, M-landscape, mythological M., spatial M. and others. The following M. are the most common as a basis of a plot: 1) heroical collision [a reason for making a character to act; “Ural-batyr”, “Akbuzat”; “Idegey” (Tat.); “Svyatogor” (Rus.) and others]; 2) a way to act [spatial movement; “Zayatulyak and Khyukhylu”; “Sadko” (Rus.); “Azamat’s Bridge” (Chuvash) and others]; 3) ordeal/ obstruction [“Ulyp’s Land” (Chuvash), “Bogdan Khmelnitskiy” (Ukr.) and others]; 4) heroical feat [“Batyrs” (Udm.); “Ivan batyr” (Chuvash) and others]; 5) consequences of a deed [“The Dnyepr and Desna river” (Ukr.); “Legends of a book” (Udm.) and others]. Folklore of the peoples from Bashkortostan have motifs of choosing a fiance/bride, of a way, a horse, a companion, struggle of brothers for the heritage, break of a prohibition etc.; it also has dominant motifs such as the birth of a hero, a promise and its fulfilment, death and revival of a hero, escape, kidnapping (or  disappearance),   recognizing a  magic feature etc.

I.G. Kulsarina