Terem in epics, lamentations and songs of Pechora: comparative analysis

The work is aimed at the comparative analysis of the terem image in music and poetic genres of the Russian traditions of Pechora (the Ust’-Tsil’ma district of the Komi Republic and the Nenets Autonomous Area of the Arkhangelsk region). A terem is one of the most popular artistic units denoting a dwelling in Pechora folklore (54 uses were identified in epics, 7 - in lamentations and 69 - in song genres). The published records of Pechora epics and songs along with the issued and archival texts of lamentations were sources of the research. For the first time epics, lamentations and songs of Pechora are compared in terms of implementing the image of a residential building - a terem. The word “terem” in the epics and lamentations of Pechora is generally accompanied by definitions that are characteristic of the common Russian traditions. In songs, this dwelling facility is presented through the largest variety of definitions, and the analysis of song genres revealed a large number of rare word combinations. Descriptions of terems mark their owners. Pechora terems are also the objects of the world of the dead. In Pechora epics, terems belong to princes, princesses, the Sea King, Solovei the Brigand (Nightingale the Robber), as well as to the Mother of God, which indicates that the image is widely included into the epic folklore space, while in the wedding or game songs of praise and prolonged songs a terem is associated with love and family themes. The analysis of text fragments with the word “terem” identified in Pechora folklore, especially in songs and lamentations, drew our attention to the fact that this archaic type of housing is included in narrative situations related to the subject of creating a family, female images, and family in general.