THE IMAGE OF TRICKSTER HEROES AND THEIR SOCIAL ROLE IN RUSSIAN, BELARUSIAN, BULGARIAN, CZECH FAIRY TALES AND FOLKLORE

This article examines the images of trickster heroes in fairy tales from several Slavic peoples, including Russian, Belarusian, Bulgarian, and Czech fairy tales. Each nation has its own folklore trickster - a hero-trickster who triumphs by cunning and wit. The hero-trickster can perform actions that do not obey the general rules of behaviour. The trickster often breaks the rules through various tricks, stratagems, or theft. Trickster heroes can be cunning, or stupid, or they can combine both of these qualities. This publication provides examples of the most popular trickster heroes in the folklore and folk tales of various nations, including Tricky Peter, Nesterka, Ivan the Fool (also known as Ivanushka the Fool), Lisa Patrykeevna, and Silly Honza. The images of trickster heroes in folk tales and folklore from different nations share several standard features. Firstly, they are, as a rule, poor people occupying the lowest social position. They have neither power nor wealth, which means that cunning, sharp wit, and apt words are their only weapons. Secondly, tricksters perform the function of violating social norms; they overturn established social orders, bringing chaos with their pranks, jokes, behaviour, and deceit. The reader perceives these trickster heroes as positive characters in fairy tales.