Of great importance for understanding ancient Russian literature is the question of what were the peculiarities of epics. This type of genre was very popular among our distant ancestors, so the consideration of the problem posed is still relevant. School classes in literature should be preceded by a small explanation of the teacher on the topic, as this will help to understand their content, style features, meaning and ideological burden.
Literary techniques
Features of epics can be easily traced on the basis of the most famous works of this genre. When reading at least a few texts, such a technique as repetition is immediately evident. With their help, nameless authors sought to strengthen the main idea and the main meaning. In addition, in this way the ancient storytellers achieved a special sound and melodiousness of the works.
It should be noted here that these ancient epic songs were performed on especially solemn occasions, so it was very important to tune the audience in a certain way. Based on the foregoing, we can add that the peculiarities of the epics reflected the spirit of their time, when the military enterprises of the princely squad became the object of respect and glorification.
The role of epithets
This means of artistic expression plays almost the most important role in the transmission of words in a visual picture of what is happening. Unknown authors spared no colors, singing the strength and power of ancient knights and warriors. The features of the epics are easily explained by the purpose for which they were created: the desire to praise and perpetuate the exploits of the heroes.
To emphasize their fame and grandeur, the singers used the same epithets, which, with constant repetition, created an expressive and colorful picture of the battle in the imagination of the listener. As a rule, epithets were applied to characterize the appearance of a warrior, his horse, and also the enemy. The descriptions of the ancient Russian cities are extremely beautiful: princely chambers, palaces, squads.
Hyperbole
The artistic features of the epics reflect the thinking of a medieval Russian man who was inclined to magnify the exploits of his beloved heroes. To this end, the authors used hyperbolas, which were supposed to amaze the listener's imagination. In fact, the exploits of the knights are presented in unusually epic tones. For example, in ancient legends, the hero strikes the enemy with one sweep and blow, from the blow of his horse's hoof the earth trembles and leaves fall from the trees. The same techniques apply to the description of negative characters. For example, the Nightingale the robber whistles so that all life around is scattered, a strong wind rises.
Accents
Artistic features of epics reveal some features of the musical art of our ancestors. These ancient epic songs were built according to special rules that gave them melodiousness, dimensionality and a certain rhythm of sound. The lines of these works use several stresses, usually three. They were put on the third syllables from the beginning and from the end.
This principle was not mandatory, but it was applied quite often. Such a performance gave bylina a special sound expressiveness and epicness. However, sometimes to enhance the melodiousness of the text, the syllables were chanted as one word, without divisions and pauses.
Composition
No less important is the question of what features of the construction of bylina were used most often. All the works of the genre in question began with the beginning, an introductory word that revealed the time and place of action. Here, schoolchildren should pay attention to a high degree of historical certainty: legends always indicate the real city, talk about the prince who ruled at the time the events described were taking place, sometimes the author mentioned specific places, which gave the narrative credibility and truthfulness.
This is followed by the plot and climax, which are revealed literally in one breath, without pauses, delays or retreats. Thus, the storytellers painted one picture of the event, preventing the listener from being distracted for even a single minute. The denouement, as a rule, occurred rather quickly: it speaks of the honors the hero took as a reward for his feat.
Theme
Features of Russian epics reveal the inner world of ancient Russian people. Thanks to these amazing legends, we can understand what exactly interested our distant ancestors. Of course, the most favorite plot was the story of the feats and military battles of the warriors. However, in addition to this, there were also topics dedicated to the glorification of simple agricultural workers. There were epics about the unusual adventures of heroes, for example, fairy tales about the merchant Sadko were very popular. These epics do not glorify the martial prowess of knights, but such traits of characters as cunning, daring, worldly wisdom, which allowed them to find a way out of the most difficult situations.