Folklore is oral folk art. Features of folklore

The oral poetry of the people is of great social value, consisting in its cognitive, ideological, educational and aesthetic meanings, which are inextricably linked. The cognitive significance of folklore is manifested primarily in the fact that it reflects the characteristics of real life phenomena and provides extensive knowledge about the history of social relations, work and life, as well as an idea of the worldview and psychology of the people, and the nature of the country. The cognitive significance of folklore is increased by the fact that the plots and images of its works usually contain broad typification and contain generalizations of life phenomena and people’s characters. Thus, the images of Ilya Muromets and Mikula Selyaninovich in Russian epics give an idea of the Russian peasantry in general; one image characterizes an entire social stratum of people. The cognitive significance of folklore is also increased by the fact that its works not only present, but also explain pictures of life, historical events and images of heroes. Thus, epics and historical songs explain why the Russian people withstood the Mongol-Tatar yoke and emerged victorious in the struggle, they explain the meaning of the exploits of heroes and the activities of historical figures. M. Gorky said: “The true history of the working people cannot be known without knowing oral folk art.” Gorky M. Collection. cit., vol. 27, p. 311. The ideological and educational significance of folklore lies in the fact that its best works are inspired by high progressive ideas, love for the motherland, and the desire for peace. Folklore depicts heroes as defenders of the homeland and evokes a feeling of pride in them. He poetizes Russian nature - and the mighty rivers (Mother Volga, the wide Dnieper, the quiet Don), and the expansive steppes, and the wide fields - and this fosters love for it. The image of the Russian land is recreated in works of folklore. Folk art expresses the life aspirations and social views of the people, and often revolutionary sentiments. It played an important role in the people’s struggle for national and social liberation, for their socio-political and cultural development. Modern folk art contributes to the communist education of the masses. In all this, the ideological and educational significance of folk poetry is manifested. The aesthetic significance of folklore works lies in the fact that they are a wonderful art of words and are distinguished by great poetic skill, which is reflected in their construction, in the creation of images, and in language. Folklore skillfully uses fiction, fantasy, and symbolism, i.e. allegorical transfer and characterization of phenomena and their poeticization. Folklore expresses the artistic tastes of the people. The form of his works has been polished over the centuries by the work of excellent masters. Therefore, folklore develops an aesthetic sense, a sense of beauty, a sense of form, rhythm and language. Because of this, it is of great importance for the development of all types of professional art: literature, music, theater. The work of many great writers and composers is closely connected with folk poetry.

Folklore is characterized by the revelation of beauty in nature and man, the unity of aesthetic and moral principles, the combination of reality and fiction, vivid imagery and expressiveness. All this serves as an explanation why the best works of folklore provide great aesthetic pleasure. The science of folklore. The science of folklore - folkloristics - studies oral folk art, the verbal art of the masses. It poses and resolves a significant range of important questions: about the characteristics of folklore - its vital content, social nature, ideological essence, artistic originality; about its origin, development, originality at different stages of existence; about his attitude to literature and other forms of art; about the features of the creative process in it and the forms of existence of individual works; about the specifics of genres: epics, fairy tales, songs, proverbs, etc. Folklore is a complex, synthetic art; Often his works combine elements of various types of art - verbal, musical, theatrical. It is closely connected with folk life and rituals, and reflects the characteristics of various periods of history. That is why various sciences are interested in it and study it: linguistics, literary criticism, art history, ethnography, history. Each of them explores folklore in various aspects: linguistics - the verbal side, reflecting in it the history of the language and connections with dialects; literary criticism - general features of folklore and literature and their differences; art history - musical and theatrical elements; ethnography - the role of folklore in folk life and its connection with rituals; history is the expression in it of the people's understanding of historical events. Due to the uniqueness of folklore as an art, the term “folklore” has different meanings in different countries. content, and therefore the subject of folkloristics is understood differently. In some foreign countries, folkloristics deals not only with the study of the poetic, but also the musical and choreographic aspects of folk poetic works, i.e., elements of all types of arts. In our country, folkloristics is understood as the science of folk poetic creativity.

Folkloristics has its own subject of study, its own special tasks, and has developed its own research methods and techniques. However, the study of the verbal side of oral folk art is not separated from the study of its other aspects: the cooperation of the sciences of folklore, linguistics, literary criticism, art criticism, ethnography and history is very fruitful. Genera, genres and genre varieties. Folklore, like literature, is the art of words. This gives grounds for folkloristics to use concepts and terms that were developed by literary criticism, naturally applying them to the features of oral folk art. Such concepts and terms are genus, type, genre and genre variety. Both in literary criticism and in folkloristics there is still no unambiguous idea about them; researchers disagree and argue. We will adopt a working definition that we will use. Those phenomena of literature and folklore, which are called genera, genres and genre varieties, are groups of works that are similar to each other in structure, ideological and artistic principles and functions. They have developed historically and are relatively stable, changing only to a small extent and rather slowly. The difference between genera, genres and genre varieties is important for performers of works, and for their listeners, and for researchers studying folk art, since these phenomena represent meaningful forms, the emergence, development, change and death of which is an important process in history literature and folklore.

In literary and folkloristic terminology in our time, the concept and term “species” have almost gone out of use; most often they are replaced by the concept and term “genre”, although they were previously distinguished. We will also accept as a working concept “genre” - a narrower group of works than genus. In this case, by genus we will mean a way of depicting reality (epic, lyrical, dramatic), and by genre - a type of artistic form (fairy tale, song, proverb). But we have to introduce an even narrower concept - “genre variety”, which is a thematic group of works (fairy tales about animals, fairy tales, fairy tales, social and everyday tales, love songs, family songs, etc.). Even smaller groups of works can be identified. Thus, in social and everyday fairy tales there is a special group of works - satirical fairy tales. However, in order to present a general picture of the classification (distribution) of types of works of Russian folk poetry, a number of other circumstances should be taken into account: firstly, the relationship of genres to the so-called rituals (special cult actions), secondly, the relationship of the verbal text to singing and action, which is typical for some types of folklore works. Works may be associated with ritual and singing and may not be associated with them.

Introduction

Folklore is the main means of folk pedagogy. Folk pedagogy is an educational subject and type of activity of adults for the upbringing of the younger generation, the totality and interrelation of ideas and ideas, views and opinions and beliefs, as well as the skills and techniques of the people on the development of education and training of the younger generation, reflected in folk art. This is the mentality of the nation in relation to the younger generation, and educational traditions in the family and society, and the connection and continuity of generations.

Folklore is an invaluable national treasure. This is a huge layer of the spiritual culture of Belarusians, which was formed through the collective efforts of many generations over many centuries. At the present stage of national revival, it is necessary to return to what was achieved by our ancestors.

Belarusian national folklore is one of the richest in the Slavic world. It is full of pedagogical experience and folk wisdom. On the basis of folklore, a huge layer of ethical and pedagogical ideas was created: respect for elders, hard work, tolerance, goodwill, tolerance for other people's opinions.

Tolerance, tolerance, virtue, as traditional Christian virtues, gradually became the distinctive features of Belarusians. Moreover, they coexist with such qualities as personal dignity, focus, and activity.

Folklore with educational content, everyday traditions, holidays, Belarusian classical literature - these are the concepts that have a huge impact on the formation of national character. It promotes the creative development of children and youth in the world of epics, fairy tales, and legends. Proverbs and sayings can serve as the basis for moral precepts, helping to develop thinking, logic, and interest in the history and culture of the people.

Thus, folklore is the main source of knowledge about the principles of education that have developed in the culture of different nations, its moral, religious and mythical foundations. The figurative and symbolic nature of artistic creativity, its impact on the emotional and sensory sphere of the individual makes it the most adequate means of unobtrusive and at the same time effective educational influence.

Consideration of this course topic is relevant and interesting at the same time.

The educational potential of folklore is limitless. Today, our society is reviving forgotten ancient traditions, using folk experience, creating new models of educational theories and practices.

Attention to folklore, ancient layers of culture, tradition in general, as an inexhaustible source of human upbringing and development, has been especially active in recent years in the socio-pedagogical environment. This is due to the functional characteristics of folklore genres, the deep spirituality and wisdom of folk art, and the continuity of the process of transmitting national culture from generation to generation.

At the beginning of the new century, there is an increased interest in national culture, ethnic processes, traditional artistic creativity, and folklore. Scientists note a special growth in the historical and national self-awareness of each people, explaining this by socio-psychological and political reasons.

Preservation and development of national culture and one’s roots is the most important task, which requires careful treatment of historical and cultural monuments, and traditional folk art. The revival of folklore, folk customs, rituals and holidays, traditional arts and crafts and fine arts is a pressing problem of our time. Folklore, its genres, means, and methods most fully fill out the entire picture of people's life, giving a vivid picture of the life of the people, their morality, and spirituality. Folklore reveals the soul of a people, its virtues and characteristics. From a scientific point of view, folklore is a phenomenon that deserves special study and careful evaluation.

The purpose of the course work is to reveal the significance of folklore in the system of national education.

Coursework objectives:

– characterize the phenomenon of folklore and its educational significance;

– characterize the main genres of folklore, based on the educational potential of each;

– show the practical application of the main folklore genres in education.

The object of this coursework is the multifaceted phenomenon of national folklore, and the subject is the genres of folklore and their educational potential.

Methods used when writing coursework - descriptive, comparative analysis, analysis of literary sources.

folklore educational genre

1. Folklore is a means of national education

1.1 The concept and essence of folklore

The term “folklore” (translated as “folk wisdom”) was first introduced by the English scientist W.J. Toms in 1846. At first, this term covered the entire spiritual (beliefs, dances, music, wood carving, etc.), and sometimes the material (housing, clothing) culture of the people. In modern science there is no unity in the interpretation of the concept of “folklore”. Sometimes it is used in its original meaning: an integral part of folk life, closely intertwined with its other elements. Since the beginning of the 20th century. the term is also used in a narrower, more specific meaning: verbal folk art.

Folklore (eng. folklore) – folk art, most often oral; artistic collective creative activity of the people, reflecting their life, views, ideals; poetry created by the people and existing among the masses (legends, songs, ditties, anecdotes, fairy tales, epics), folk music (songs, instrumental tunes and plays), theater (dramas, satirical plays, puppet theater), dance, architecture, fine and arts and crafts.

Folklore is the collective and tradition-based creativity of groups and individuals, determined by the hopes and aspirations of society, and is an adequate expression of their cultural and social identity.

According to B.N. Putilov, there are five main variants of the meaning of the concept “folklore”:

1. folklore as a set, a variety of forms of traditional culture, that is, a synonym for the concept of “traditional culture”;

2. folklore as a complex of phenomena of traditional spiritual culture, realized in words, ideas, ideas, sounds, movements. In addition to artistic creativity itself, it also covers what can be called mentality, traditional beliefs, and folk philosophy of life;

3. folklore as a phenomenon of artistic creativity of the people;

4. folklore as a sphere of verbal art, that is, the area of oral folk art;

5. folklore as phenomena and facts of verbal spiritual culture in all their diversity.

The narrowest, but also the most stable of these definitions is the one that connects it mainly with the genres of oral folk art, that is, with verbal, verbal expression. This is truly the most developed area of folkloristics, which has made a huge contribution to the development of the science of literature - a direct descendant, “continuator” of oral folk art, genetically related to it.

The concept of “folklore” also means all areas of folk art, including those to which this concept is usually not applied (folk architecture, folk arts and crafts, etc.), since it reflects an indisputable fact, all types and genres of professional art have their origins in folk art and folk art.

The most ancient types of verbal art arose in the process of the formation of human speech in the Upper Paleolithic era. Verbal creativity in ancient times was closely connected with human labor activity and reflected religious, mythical, historical ideas, as well as the beginnings of scientific knowledge. Ritual actions, through which primitive man sought to influence the forces of nature, fate, were accompanied by words: spells and conspiracies were pronounced, and various requests or threats were addressed to the forces of nature. The art of words was closely connected with other types of primitive art - music, dance, decorative art. In science this is called “primitive syncretism.” Traces of it are still visible in folklore.

As humanity accumulated more and more significant life experience that needed to be passed on to subsequent generations, the role of verbal information increased. The separation of verbal creativity into an independent art form is the most important step in the prehistory of folklore. Folklore was a verbal art organically inherent in folk life. The different purposes of the works gave rise to genres, with their various themes, images, and style. In the ancient period, most peoples had tribal traditions, work and ritual songs, mythological stories, and conspiracies. The decisive event that paved the line between mythology and folklore itself was the appearance of fairy tales, the plots of which were perceived as fiction.

In ancient and medieval society, a heroic epic took shape. Legends and songs reflecting religious beliefs also arose (for example, Russian spiritual poems). Later, historical songs appeared, depicting real historical events and heroes, as they remained in people's memory. With changes in the social life of society, new genres arose in Russian folklore: soldiers', coachmen's, barge haulers' songs. The growth of industry and cities gave rise to romances, jokes, worker, school and student folklore.

For thousands of years, folklore was the only form of poetic creativity among all peoples. But with the advent of writing for many centuries, right up to the period of late feudalism, oral poetry was widespread not only among the working people, but also among the upper strata of society: the nobility, the clergy. Having arisen in a certain social environment, a work could become a national property.

Folklore, translated from English, means “folk wisdom, folk knowledge.” It was first introduced by the English scientist W.J. Toms in 1846. At first, this term covered the entire spiritual (beliefs, dances, music, wood carving, etc.), and sometimes the material (housing, clothing) culture of the people. Since the beginning of the 20th century. the term is also used in a narrower, more specific meaning: oral folk art.

Folklore is an art that has been formed over many centuries and changes over time.

Only all 3 of these factors, present AT THE SAME TIME, are a sign of folklore and distinguish it from literature.

Syncretism is the unity and indivisibility of various types of art, characteristic of the early stages of its development. Artistic creativity is not separated from other types of activity and, together with them, is directly included in practical life. Syncretism is an undeveloped state of early traditional folklore. The most ancient types of verbal art arose in the process of the formation of human speech in the Upper Paleolithic era. Verbal creativity in ancient times was closely connected with human labor activity and reflected religious, mythical, historical ideas, as well as the beginnings of scientific knowledge. Ritual actions, through which primitive man sought to influence the forces of nature, fate, were accompanied by words: spells and conspiracies were pronounced, and various requests or threats were addressed to the forces of nature. The art of words was closely connected with other types of primitive art - music, dance, decorative art. In science this is called “primitive syncretism.” Traces of it are still visible in folklore.

The Russian scientist A.N. Veselovsky believed that the origins of poetry are in folk ritual. Primitive poetry, according to his concept, was originally a choir song accompanied by dancing and pantomime. The role of the word at first was insignificant and entirely subordinated to rhythm and facial expressions. The text was improvised according to the performance until it acquired a traditional character.

Types of folklore: Epic (legends, fairy tales, traditions, epics - genres) Lyric-epic genre (transitional) - romance

Lyrics (songs, ditties); Drama (folklore theater)

Types of folklore: Archaic - folklore develops among peoples at the primitive stage of development. There is no written language yet; culture is oral. The folklore of people with mythological thinking covers the entire culture of the ethnic group. Classical - folklore takes shape in the era when states are formed, writing and literature emerge. Here artistic fiction is formed, a genre system is formed. Modern is post-folklore, which developed in Russia after the abolition of serfdom. His element is the city. Epic songs, fairy tales and traditional lyrical songs are being replaced by songs of a new formation, ditties, and anecdotes.

Folklore (according to V.E. Gusev) - verbally - musically - choreographically - the dramatic part of folk art (the spiritual component of folk culture) - not material art. Materially expressed (DPI) – folk art.

Folklore is a syncretic and synthetic art, because combines various types of arts.

Signs of folklore: Orality (not only the form of dissemination, but the form in which it has the greatest aesthetic impact); Impersonality (the work has an author, but is not identified); Collectivity (as an aesthetic category. The quality of the project accepted by the team corresponds to folk tradition. Collectivity = tradition + improvisation); Traditionality (works are inserted on the basis of traditions); Variability (different options in different territories); Improvisation; Nationality (aesthetic category, expression of ideals, interests, aspirations of the people).

Tradition is stable patterns, artistic techniques and means used by a community of people for many generations and passed on from generation to generation. Tradition is understood as the most general principles of creativity, and in folklore - a set of stable plot forms, types, heroes, and poetic forms.

Folklore genres:

The folklore genre is a set of works united by a common poetic system, everyday use, forms of performance and musical structure. (V.Ya. Propp) Genre is a unit of classification of folklore

Ph-r is divided into genera (epic, lyric, drama), genera - into types (eg, songs, fairy tales, etc.), and types into genres. If the method of existence of works is used as the basis for the classification, then the genre will be divided into ritual and non-ritual.

The epic reproduces reality in narrative form in the form of objective pictures. Divided into: Songs (poems)

Epics; historical songs; ballads; spiritual poems; Prose; Fairytale prose; Animal Tales; Fairy tales; Jokes

Novels; Non-fairy prose; Legends; Legends; Bylichki (demonological stories).

In epic folklore genres, the main artistic feature is the plot. It is built on a conflict, which is based on the hero's clash with supernatural or real opponents. The plot can be both simple and complex, the events can be perceived as both real and fictional, and the content can be related to the past, present and future.

Lyrics - lyrics poetically depict the inner, mental state of a person, his subjective experiences

Songs of Ditties; Lamentations; Dramatic genres of folklore have a spectacular and playful nature, and convey an attitude to reality in play action; Ritual games; Dramatic games; Late theatrical genres; Theater of live actors; Puppet show; Rayok;

According to the method of existence of works, folklore is divided into: Ritual; Ritual calendar; Ritual family; Non-ritual.

In addition, there are small genres of folklore: paremias; Proverbs and sayings; Puzzles

And also such types as children's folklore (lullabies, teasers, horror stories, chants, etc., folklore of workers (songs, ditties, prose), folklore of the Second World War (ditties, f-r of the front, rear, hijacked into occupation, Victory and .etc.)

Each folklore genre has its own circle of heroes, its own plots and stylistic devices, however, all folklore genres in their natural existence are interconnected and form a system. In this system, outdated f.zh. are destroyed. and on their basis new ones are born.

Folklore researchers: V.N. Tatishchev (18th century), Slavophiles P.V. Kirievsky, N.M. Yazykov, V.I. Dahl et al.; 1850-60s: F.I. Buslaev, A.N. Afanasyev, A.N. Veselovsky, V.F. Miller; beginning of the Soviet era: B.M. and Yu.M. Sokolovs, D.K. Zelenin, M.K. Azadovsky, N.P. Andreev. Second floor. 20 in: V.I. Chicherov, V.Ya. Propp, N.N. Veletskaya, V.K. Sokolova, L.N. Vinogradova, I.E. Karpukhin, V.P. Anikin, E.V. Pomerantseva, E.M. Meletinsky, V.A. Bakhtin, V.E. Gusev, A.F. Nekrylova, B.N. Putilov, etc.

Folklore (eng. folklore) - folk art, most often oral; artistic collective creative activity of the people, reflecting their life, views, ideals; poetry created by the people and existing among the masses (legends, songs, ditties, anecdotes, fairy tales, epics), folk music (songs, instrumental tunes and plays), theater (dramas, satirical plays, puppet theater), dance, architecture, fine and arts and crafts.

According to B.N. Putilov, there are five main variants of the meaning of the concept “folklore”:

1. folklore as a set, a variety of forms of traditional culture, that is, a synonym for the concept of “traditional culture”;

3. folklore as a phenomenon of artistic creativity of the people;

4. folklore as a sphere of verbal art, that is, the area of oral folk art;

5. folklore as phenomena and facts of verbal spiritual culture in all their diversity.

The narrowest, but also the most stable of these definitions is the one that connects it mainly with the genres of oral folk art, that is, with verbal, verbal expression. This is truly the most developed field of folkloristics, which has made a huge contribution to the development of the science of literature - a direct descendant, “continuator” of oral folk art, genetically related to it.

One of the most important specific features of folk oral creativity is collectivity. Each piece of oral folk art not only expresses the thoughts and feelings of specific groups, but is also collectively created and disseminated. However, the collectivity of the creative process in folklore does not mean that individuals did not play any role. Talented masters not only improved or adapted existing texts to new conditions, but sometimes also created songs, ditties, and fairy tales, which, in accordance with the laws of oral folk art, were distributed without the name of the author. With the social division of labor, unique professions arose related to the creation and performance of poetic and musical works (ancient Greek rhapsodes, Russian guslars, Ukrainian kobzars, Kyrgyz akyns, Azerbaijani ashugs, French chansonniers, etc.). Collectivity is not a simple co-authorship, but a special long-term process of improving songs, fairy tales, legends, proverbs and sayings. Collectivity is most clearly manifested in the constant process of selection and polishing of works of folk poetry: from many works, the people choose and preserve the best, similar to their thoughts and aesthetic views. The collective principle in folklore is not opposed to the individual. Folklore is characterized by an organic combination of the collective and the individual, while collectivity does not interfere with the manifestation of the individual abilities of writers and performers.

The oral form of existence of folklore is organically connected with the collectivity of folk art. Folklore appeared earlier than writing and initially existed only in oral transmission. The oral form of existence of folk poetry leads to the emergence of variants of the same folklore work - this is another specific feature of folklore - variability.

Folklore works differ from fiction in the features of their artistic form. These features include, first of all, traditional poetics developed by the people over the centuries. Traditional folk symbolism, constant epithets, metaphors give folk art a specific flavor.

Folklore differs from written literature in its typification features. Literature is characterized by the creation of typical characters in typical settings. A typical character, reflecting the main features of his social environment and his era, is manifested through the individual qualities of the hero, through his individual and unique appearance. The images of oral folk art do not have such individualization.

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

Basic definition

Folklore is the collective creativity of a people, expressing its worldview and ideals, and also serving as a complete reflection of its mentality. Usually this is oral creation - epics, tales, proverbs, conspiracies, riddles. Considering the question of what folklore is, one cannot help but mention the very meaning of this word. Translated, “Folk-lore” literally means “folk wisdom” or “folk knowledge.” This term was introduced into use in 1846 by the English explorer William Toms.

In our country, many enlightened people made a huge contribution to the study of this area 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, Maxim Gorky paid great attention to the question of folklore - what it is. It was thanks to this main proletarian writer that the main problems of Soviet folklore studies were developed.

Main characteristics

So, folklore - what is it and what are its characteristics? The main distinctive features of folk art can be called lack of writing, verbality, of course, collectivity and deep traditionality. This is, in fact, the only area of culture on which the state and government cannot have any influence at all. For centuries, tales, epics and legends have been passed down from father to son. In addition to the literary sphere, mentality and traditionalism are also manifested in all other areas of folk art - in dance, music, etc.

Basic varieties and genres of folklore

The main folk art includes epics, riddles, proverbs and lamentations.

Oral tradition, dance, crafts and songs are the main types of folklore proper. At the same time, it is also worth highlighting its ritual types. This area of art usually has pagan roots and appears as a kind of opposition to the new religion. However, this is not always the case. For example, during the years of the USSR, when all cults were prohibited, it was Christian ritual folklore that showed itself very strongly. In this light, folk art can even be considered a reflection of some kind of confrontation between the common people and the authorities, any kind at that.

Works of folklore reflect the experience of thousands of years. And regardless of what stage of social development a particular people stands at, fairy tales and epics are one of the most valuable sources of knowledge of their history. Perhaps the Russian darling of fate Ivan the Fool, the beautiful Vasilisa, the Greek villain Prometheus and Hercules, the German Freya, Scandinavian trolls, etc. are able to tell about what events took place on earth in ancient times, much more than it might seem at first glance.