THE MOTIF AS AN IDEAL TYPE, OR TRICKSTER EPISODES IN EURASIAN FOLKLORE

Abstract

Folklore motif is an analytical tool created for the particular kind of research. Our purpose is to reveal routes of the interregional exchange of ideas in different periods of the past. The dissemination of ideas can be followed when we study material (archaeological sites) and nonmaterial (traditional narratives) objects created because of particular ideas adopted by people. Ideas are copied and disseminated unconsciously. The folklore motif is any unit of replication (most often an episode or an image) registered in two or more traditions. The tradition is a totality of narratives recorded for a particular ethnic group or across a particular territory. Motifs can be classified according to thematic groups that approximately correspond to genres of those narratives from which they are selected. The author analyses the results of computing trickster motifs with animal and anthropomorphic actors. The area configuration of the selected interaction spheres suggests that the spread of the motifs with anthropomorphic actors took place mostly from the late Antique period to the early New Time, and the spread of the animal tales – during the Middle Age and earlier. The influence of the Great Steppe on East Europe is noticeable for the Middle Age with the emergence of the borderline between Christian Europe, and the Asian-Africa interaction sphere is a characteristic trait of the early New Time. China is outside of this opposition.