Nature of functioning of folklore elements in the trilogy about Balzaminov of A.N. Ostrovsky

The article considers and determines the place and the role of folklore elements in A.N. Ostrovsky’s plays: " Celebratory Sleep Is That Before Dinner " (1857), "Your dogs fight, the other do not bother " and " Whatever You Look for, You'll Find " (1861): traits of fairy tale and fairy motives, the role of prophetic dreams and signs, the meaning of " Cruel romance "in the characteristics of heroes, folklore forms and imagery associated with the match-maker, the place and role of proverbs and sayings in the structure of the plot.