PRIPOVETKA „MUSTAFA MADŽAR” U SVETLU MUSLIMANSKE EPSKE POEZIJE

This paper explores the ethical aspects of modelling Mustafa Madžar as a national hero in Ivo Andrić's story, and the extent to which the sense of his heroism aligns with or differs from the Muslim epic tradi- tion. Mustafa Madžar is highlighted for his exceptional warrior skills and merits, earning him symbolic and representative meaning, and in addition, he is historically contextualized through the epic battles near Banja Luka, Russia, Hungary, and Slavonia, all prominent themes in Muslim oral poetry. The analysis therefore draws on relevant folk epic poems, such as "Battle under Banja Luka in 1737", "Battle near Osijek", "Em- peror Suleiman Conquers Buda", and "War Between Turkey and Russia". A comparison between Andrić's narrative motivation and that of Muslim epic poetry reveals that Andrić's portrayal of Ottoman Bosnia, despite receiving harsh moralistic criticisms, does not essentially differ from the depiction found in Muslim folk poetry. While Andrić addresses the same themes as the Muslim poets, he emphasizes different aspects, guided by a universal humanist principle, thus offering a distinct insight. The short story "Mustafa Madžar" holds significant critical interest from ethical and imagological perspectives, and this paper contributes to that ongoing discussion