Novgorod cycle of epics

In the Russian epic, the Novgorod cycle of epics stands apart. The basis of the stories of these legends were not the feats of arms and political events on a national scale, but cases from the life of the inhabitants of a large trading city, Veliky Novgorod. The reasons are clear: the city and the veche republic formed around it always occupied a separate place in life, and, therefore, in the culture of Russia.

They composed and recited these epic clowns, for which the ancient city was especially famous. Naturally, for a generous reward, they tried to please the tastes of the Novgorod bourgeoisie, creating vivid, fascinating, and at times amusing plots from their lives.

Content of the epic of the Novgorod cycle

Bylinas about Zadka

The most famous hero of Novgorod legends - Sadko. Released from a poor environment (either a guslar, or a simple merchant, or just a good young man), he becomes very wealthy. Such a plot could not fail to attract those who were passionate about enriching the inhabitants of the shopping center.

In the plots of epics about Zadka, three lines can be distinguished: about its enrichment, about competition with Novgorod, and about Tsar of the Sea. Sometimes it all could be in one tale. But in any case, much attention was paid to the usual everyday scenes of the Novgorod reality, the merchant environment was brightly drawn. In fact, all the legends about Sadok glorify the wealth of the master of Novgorod the Great.

Bylina about Stavre

The apogee of the heyday of Novgorod's desire to receive capital becomes the epic of Stavr. It tells about the noble Novgorod capitalist boyar, engaged in lordship and usury. The prince Vladimir prisons the epic Stavr - here you can see the clash and rivalry between Kiev and Novgorod, and the prototype is the Sotsky, imprisoned by Vladimir Monomakh. But all the sympathies of the narrator are clearly on the side of the Novgorod boyar.

Bylinas about Vasily Buslaev

Vaska Buslaev was a favorite of the Novgorod inhabitants - a daring fellow, a hero of Novgorod ushkuynichestvo, dashing robberies in the Novgorod colonies, a lover of the hang around and feast. Unlike other epic heroes who walked around Russia, Novgorod Buslaev is famous not for military heroism, but for boldness in the internal fights and conflicts of the restless republic.

Other epics

The expression of the tastes of the Novgorod inhabitants also includes other epic words - about Hoten Blududovich, who decided to woo the daughter of a haughty and rich widow, about a rich guest Terentyishche, etc. They are purely realistic-genre character, vividly illustrating the everyday life and tastes of the Novgorod bourgeoisie.

The role of the Novgorod cycle of epics

Novgorod was the richest shopping center, open to the cultural influences of the West and the East. At the same time, he always resembled a hive disturbed by the acute struggle of social groups. By his very nature, he formed the cult of wealth, luxury, and overseas travel.

Appearing in such circumstances, the Novgorod cycle of epics allows one to look not at the fabulous feats of the heroes, as in the epics of the Kiev cycle, but at the ordinary life of the ancient city. Even the style of presentation and the plot of these songs resemble rather bright and fascinating "gossip" carried by the buffoons and narrators around the noisy city. That is why Novgorod epics stand out among their “brethren”, referring rather to the category of European novels about city life (fablo).