The image of a fox in Kalmyk fairy tales about animals

The article is devoted to the analysis of the image of a fox in Kalmyk fairy tales about animals, in which elements of tricksterism are realized. The fox, according to scientists, belongs to the Lower World, as it belongs to the “burrow” animals. The research material was fairy tales about animals, both published and unpublished in Kalmyk and translated into Russian. As a result of analyzing such a controversial, ambivalent image of a fox, the following conclusions can be drawn. Fairy tales in which the fox is the main character did not form a cycle, although they have a trickster beginning (a fox and its mate, most often a wolf, inconstancy, a typical situation of hunger). The image of a fox is a multifaceted construct, on which both mythical, sacred, and desacralized principles are layered. The fox, in our opinion, is a mediator (intermediary) between the worlds and, presumably, a totem animal. The latter hypothesis is also supported by the allegorical nomination, which replaced the direct common Mongolian name. Thus, in Kalmyk folklore and, more broadly, in the speech of Kalmyks, the nomination arata is mainly used, which translated into Russian means “with molars, fanged”. In fairy tales, only the allegorical nomination of this animal is used. The texts do not indicate the family affiliation of the fox, however, based on indirect evidence (thin voice, flattering=affectionate), we come to the conclusion that the female fox is the main character of fairy tales. Her image has a greater degree of individualization, but, however, does not reach its high degree. In fairy tales where the fox is fooled, her deception and tricks are directed against “her social group”, that’s why she is punished.