The Song of Shara Gürgü

Introduction. The article provides a comparative insight into two versions of The Song of Shara Gürgü [the Furious]: the first was recorded in 1862, and the second was heard in the mid-to-late 20th century. The Appendix publishes The Song of Shara Gürgü recorded by N. Ts Bitkeev, E. B. Ovalov, N. B. Sangadzhieva — then employees of Kalmyk Institute of Language, Literature and History (present-day KalmSC RAS) — on 24–25 August 1971 in the village of Kamyshovo (Limansky District, Astrakhan Oblast). The introduction into scientific circulation of the narrative by jangarchi Mikhail Mandzhiev, a devout representative of the Kalmyk epic tradition, is of great significance for the comprehensive research of the phenomenon of taletelling. Materials. The paper examines the original text of the Song integral to the Kalmyk heroic epic of Jangar, recorded in 1971, and archived by Kalmyk Scientific Center (RAS). Goals. The article aims to introduce the version of jangarchi Mikhail Mandzhiev, conduct a comparative analysis of plot and compositional elements, including typical places of the Song, to an early recording of 1862. Results. As compared to the latter, the narrative of jangarchi Mikhail Mandzhiev differs in a smaller volume (only 849 poetic lines). The reduction is due to that the narrator omits some typical passages. However, this did not affect the harmony and conciseness of the Song because the taleteller retains plot-compositional structure and motif fund almost in full

Aesthetics · Art · EPIC · Literature · Narrative · Poetry · Visual arts · Cultural and Sociopolitical Studies · Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies · History · Linguistics and Cultural Studies · Mathematics · Philosophy