Лучшие эссе студентов МАХУ – победителей международного конкурса (для параллельного чтения на двух языках) - страница 12

Being as a mighty ruler as Arthur was, Prince Vladimir managed to consolidate the provinces into a single state and defend the borders. Folk singers singled out Prince Vladimir (whose character is presented as a generalized “epic Vladimir”) and a number of warriors associated in one way or another with early Kiev as heroes in byliny, a traditional form of Old Russian heroic narrative poetry transmitted orally.

Unlike Arthur, who places noble knights at the Round Table as equals in holy brotherhood, Vladimir the Red Sun gathers in Kiev bogatyrs with different background. Although the Prince’s feasting table was rectangular, it was enormous to emphasize his generosity, wealth and power. He offered the heroes to take the place up to their choice. Once Ilya Muromets felt offended by the placement far from the Prince, but that happened accidentally. This misunderstanding even caused tension in their relations. Keeping loyalty was not easy for many of King Arthur’s knights, either, and they aided in both the rise and the fall of Camelot. Let’s remember Lancelot’s famous dilemma: just as he was indebted to Arthur for initiating him into the Round Table, so he was indebted to Guinevere for saving him from being shamed in the initiation ceremony when the Queen found a sword for him, and he swore to serve no other woman. But when the country is in danger all feuds and doubts are forgotten. Lancelot becomes the Round Table’s greatest and most fearless warrior and Ilya brings the monster Nightingale the Robber to the court of the ruler for the fair judgment (the same way as knights did) because only the suzerain, with his God-given power, can punish or forgive.

Russian bogatyrs did not swear on pain of death to be loyal to the prince (or the king); to be merciful; to defend any lady in need; and never to fight in any wrongful cause (due to the fact that Russia had not developed the institution of chivalry). But one hero could always rely on the others to have his back covered and get help while carrying out the Prince’s order. In the epic “The signing of Ilya Muromets” Dobrynya (a representative of the noble class of warriors) catches the arrow, which bears the request for assistance, from Ilya and hurries to help. It is difficult to find in Russian epics love to either a beautiful lady or virtue, but once Dobrynya rescues “a lady in need” – Zabava Putyatichna (Vladimir’s niece) from the dragon Gorynych. Alyosha Popovich is the youngest of the three superheroes, depicted together in Viktor Vasnetsov's renowned painting Bogatyrs. He is usually described as a crafty priest's son who may occasionally be a liar and a cheat. He defeated the dragon Tugarin Zmeyevich by trickery. In later versions the dragon was transformed into the figure of a MongolKhan.

All epic stories contain the idea of the destiny of the hero, his being chosen. The hero cannot decide whether he wants to put his life to risk or not, the choice is made for him by higher powers, his task is to follow his fate and fulfill his duty with honor. Arthur’s knights as well as Vladimir’s heroes leave their small homeland for the capitals. That's where they can fully realize their best qualities and devote their strength and skills to protect the state. Typical folklore themes include the birth and childhood of a hero, slaying a serpent, battling a monster or encountering with a sorceress who turns men into animals.