Mytho-Folkloric Origins of Literature in Sayan-Altai Region: A Study Based on Tuvan and Khakas Literary Works

This study investigates the influence of mytho-folkloric heritage on contemporary Russian literature through an analysis of selected works from Tuvan and Khakas literatures. The primary texts under examination are “The Story of a Bright Boy” by S. Sarığ-Ool (1966) and “Howl of the Gray Wolf” by A. Kotojekov (2022). The article aims to introduce Kotojekov’s novel into current academic discourse within the context of its comparison with Sarığ-Ool's earlier work, highlighting their shared folklore and mythological foundations. It identifies commonalities and unique features in the mythopoetic fields of these two literary works. Specific mythologems such as Earth, Horse, Mountain, Yurt, and Wolf are analyzed, revealing that they serve both narrative structuring and meaning-formulating roles in the narratives. Both authors artistically transform traditional elements to model the national worldview of their respective ethnic groups. The research confirms the genetic kinship between Tuvan and Khakas literatures, rooted in the relatedness of ancient cultures and unified cultural spaces of Southern Siberia. It further asserts that while Sarığ-Ool and Kotojekov differ in terms of how deeply mythology and folklore are integrated into their artistic creations, mythopoeic motifs play crucial roles in reinforcing ethno-cultural values, ensuring their preservation and transmission across generations.