Russian Heroic Epic

Methodology and Conclusions

In his work "Russian Heroic Epic," Vladimir Yakovlevich Propp approaches the bylina heritage as a living organism, where every feature, motif, and image is governed by a strict internal logic. His research methodology is based on careful structural analysis: Propp identifies stable narrative elements, traces their transformations and interconnections, as if revealing a complex pattern woven from recurring motifs and functions. He compares Russian bylinas with the epics of other peoples, identifying both unique features and common patterns in the development of heroic narrative. In his conclusions, Propp asserts that the Russian epic is not just a collection of tales about heroes, but a reflection of the deepest layers of the people's worldview, where heroism, trials, and victories become symbols of national character and historical memory. His work reveals not only the structure of bylinas but also their soul, allowing the reader to see behind the apparent simplicity of the narrative the complex world of folk poetics and collective imagination.