DASTANS: FROM ORAL TRADITION TO LITERARY PHENOMENOn

The article is devoted to the study of dastans as a unique genre of oral folk art, which played an important role in the formation of cultural identity of the peoples of the East. Artistic features, structure, theme and function of dastans in traditional society are considered. Special attention is paid to their significance in preserving historical memory, national values and moral and ethical ideals. The ways of adaptation of dastans in modern literary and cultural space are also analyzed.