The System of Characters in the Heroic Epic of the Kazakh People

Аңдатпа

Heroic poems represent one of the most significant genres of the Kazakh epic, distinguished by their thematic depth, complex artistic structure and broad ideological scope. The epic serves as a cultural heritage that reflects the historical memory, spiritual worldview, aesthetic sensibilities and national aspirations of the people. Within Kazakh heroic epics, ideas such as national consciousness, patriotism, unity, justice, bravery, defense of the homeland and prioritizing the public good over individual interests are widely expressed. In this context, a typological analysis of the character systems in heroic poems provides a deeper understanding of the epic’s nature, its genre-specific features, and its historical and social functions. The object of this study is the system of characters in Kazakh epics. The article examines the typological characteristics of the character system in the Kazakh heroic epic based on the poems “Alpamys Batyr”, “Kambar Batyr”, “Er Targyn” and “Edige Batyr”. The study comparatively analyzes the artistic structure of the heroes’ images, their personal qualities, heroic ideals, and their functions at both the tribal and broader societal levels. The analysis shows that, in the epics, heroes mainly appear as protectors of their tribe and community, whereas in the Nogai cycle, their role expands and aligns with national and state interests. Accordingly, the character system becomes increasingly complex in response to historical circumstances. The results indicate that the system of characters in Kazakh epics has an evolutionary trajectory, with the hero’s role developing from a tribal figure to a national, historically significant persona.

Keywords: folklore, Kazakh epic, typology, character system, heroic figure.