FOLKLORE ELEMENTS IN ZAHID KHALIL'S FAIRY TALE-NOVELLAS

Folk literature has served as a means of aesthetic education throughout all stages of its development, becoming a moral tool and a true school of upbringing. Its creators were the wise elders of the people—white-haired fathers and mothers—and its preservers and transmitters were the younger generations—children and youth. From its inception, Azerbaijani children's literature has drawn heavily from folklore as a primary creative source. Consequently, the use of folklore in Azerbaijani children's literature began to mature significantly from the late 19th century and continues to thrive today. Even in the works of Zahid Khalil, who creates fascinating stories in an original style, the influence of folklore has become one of the leading themes in his children's works. The richness of folklore motifs, the realistic depiction of the era, and the artistic representation of scenes from children's lives are key characteristics of the author’s contributions to children's literature. This article examines the fairy tale-stories by the writer, which are enriched with folklore and notable for their meaningful essence. The study highlights the richness of folklore motifs and the artistic portrayal of children’s life scenes in these works.