The Crane’s Curse (Kharal) in Kalmyk Poetry, 20th – Early 21st Centuries

Introduction. In 20th/21st-century Kalmyk poetry, the crane theme — like any other involving bird images — serves to symbolically address the fauna of the steppe region, native land, and ancestral home. Goals. The article aims to analyze Kalmyk poetic texts for the motif of the crane’s curse and/or revenge caused by the death of chicks, that of the spouse, and related grief, sadness, and loneliness of the bird. Both the motif and the crane theme in Kalmyk lyrics at large have never been subject to research. Methods. The work employs the historical/literary, comparative, and descriptive methods. Results. The paper begins with insights into oral folklore traditions of Kalmyks, Mongolians and Buryats for the crane theme, associated customs, rituals and superstitions, which makes it possible to identify key crane-based plots and images for further comparative analyses into Kalmyk poems authored by representatives of different generations, and corresponding Russian translations. The study of the previously unknown Kalmyk legend of the crane’s curse recorded by N. Khatuev from his father and preserved in the poem, firstly, introduces this plot into scientific circulation; secondly, clarifies the motif of the crane’s curse, death, loneliness, revenge or defenselessness of birds from evil in Kalmyk lyrics; thirdly, adds new nuances to descriptions of historical events (Great Patriotic War, Kalmyk Deportation) ― cranes to stand for souls of deceased persons. Conclusions. The poems by N. Khatuev, A. Suseev, B. Dordzhiev, M. Khoninov, T. Bembeev, and E. Eldyshev, on the one hand, continue the folklore tradition in 20th/21st-century Kalmyk poetry, while, on the other hand, show transformations and innovations in the crane theme. The adherence to ethnic versification patterns in examined works also conveys certain peculiarities of the authors’ individual styles. Russian translations of the original Kalmyk poetic texts are not that precise to articulate the declared motifs, being different enough both in form and content. Investigation of the crane theme in modern Kalmyk poetry can be continued through the involvement of other motifs, including in the folklore aspect

Aesthetics · Art · Curse · Folklore · Legend · Literature · Lyrics · Poetry · Sociology · Trickster · Anthropology · Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies · History · Linguistics and Cultural Studies · Linguistics and language evolution