If myths are sacred knowledge, then the heroic epos of the peoples of the world is important and reliable information about the development of the people, expressed in the form of poetic art. And although the epic develops from myths, but it is not always as sacred, because on the path of transition there are changes in the content and structure of the narrative. An example of this is the heroic epic of the Middle Ages or the epics of Ancient Russia, expressing the ideas of social justice, glorifying Russian knights, defending the people, and glorifying prominent people and the great events connected with them.
In fact, the Russian heroic epic began to be called epics only in the 19th century, and until then it was folk "antiquities" - poetic songs that glorify the history of the life of Russian people. Some researchers attribute the time of their addition to the X – XI centuries - the period of Kievan Rus. Others believe that this is a later genre of folk art and refers to the period of the Moscow state.
The Russian heroic epic embodies the ideals of courageous and devoted heroes who fight with enemy hordes. Mythological sources include later epics describing such heroes as the Magus, Svyatogor and Danube. Later three heroes appeared - the famous and beloved defenders of the Fatherland.
These are Dobrynya Nikitich, Ilya Muromets, Alyosha Popovich, who represent the heroic epic of the Kiev period of the development of Russia. These antiquities reflect the history of the formation of the city itself and the reign of Vladimir, to whom the heroes went to serve. In contrast, the Novgorod epics of this period are dedicated to blacksmiths and guslars, princes and noble farmers. Their heroes are amorous. They have a dodgy mind. This is Sadko, Mikula, who represent a bright and sunny world. Ilya Muromets stands at his outpost to defend it and conducts his patrol at high mountains and dark forests. He fights evil forces for good on Russian soil.
Each epic hero has his own character trait. If Ilya Muromets's heroic epic gives enormous power, similar to Svyatoslav, then Dobrynya Nikitich, in addition to strength and fearlessness, is an outstanding diplomat who can defeat the wise serpent. That is why Prince Vladimir entrusts him with diplomatic missions. In contrast, Alyosha Popovich is a cunning and sharp-witted person. Where he doesn’t have enough power there, he puts cunning into business. Of course, these images of heroes are generalized.
Epics have a delicate rhythmic organization, and their language is melodious and solemn. As artistic means there are epithets, comparisons. Enemies are ugly, and Russian heroes are grand and sublime.
Folk epics do not have a single text. They were transmitted orally, so they varied. Each epic has several options, reflecting the specific plots and motives of the area. But miracles, characters and their transformations in different ways are preserved. Fantastic elements, werewolves, resurrected heroes are transmitted on the basis of the historical representation of the people about the world. It is clear that all the epics were written during the time of independence and the power of Russia, therefore the era of antiquity has a conditional time here.
