Genre transformations in “The tale about strong bogatyr Churila Plenkovich” by V A. Levshin

In the 18th-century Russian literature, folkloric heroes quite often became characters of literary works of different genres. One of them is bogatyr Churila Plenkovich. In bylinas (Russian epic songs) the hero possesses the following distinctive traits: foppery, profusion, handsomeness, boasting, gynophilia. In his literary writing “The Tale about Strong Bogatyr Churila Plenkovich” V A. Levshin changed the epic conception of the hero and invested him with characteristics of a real bogatyr: physical vigour, virtue, good nature, loving-kindness and concern about the Fatherland. Having rejected the satirical interpretation of the epic image of Churila, the author of the story ranked him together with such bogatyrs as Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich. The hero of the tale performs feats: he defeats the Dragon, the wicked wizard Krivid and his nephews - the fabulous bogatyrs Dubynya, Gorynya, Usynya; he relieves Prelepa and Vaidevut; he releases Gertruriya and Marbod from Sumiga, overthrows the Scythian troops and their commander Chinchigan and conquers Tsargrad (Constantinople). The author easily combines epic, fabulous and novelistic motives and images representing Churila Plenkovich as the protagonist of a fabulous bogatyr tale. The results of these genre transformations were an original literary work and a new interpretation of the character of Churila, which were accepted in the 19th-century Russian literature.