5. Peculiarities of Scottish Folk Tales

When analyzing the tales of Scots we must take into account the following factors:

1. Migration route to Europe and intertribal contacts of ancient Celts were not precisely defined.

2. The number of people who can speak Gaelic is comparatively small in comparisson to the population of Scotland. So, lots of original tales were lost.

3. As a resultof the national policy, most of Scottish population was forced to emigrate, which strongly influenced the preservation of national traditions.

4. Celtic kingdom has long been affected by the Germanic and Scandinavian tribes.

Speaking about Gaelic tales, we can’t but say about their close relationships with the Irish. Some tales that were lost in Scotland may have their version in the Irish language. Gaelic tales practically are not translated into Russian.

We have studied some peculiarities of Scottish folk tales: their original plots, narrative features.

For my research I have read some tales in the original and in the Russian language.

I have come to the conclusion that there are different types of Gaelic tales:

• tales about animals;

• fairy tales;

• a small number of social tales and tales about every day life.

The action of Scottish fairy fales doesn’t happen in th forest ( in contrast to Russian fairy tales). Scottish fairy tales often proclaime immortal rejuvenation.

Certain geographical names, the description of some Scottish traditions made Gaelic tales well-known world wide. Many of the Gaelic tales are more legends, true stories which include fairy tale motifs. In Scottish tales there is not a conflict between the rich and the poor. The only rule of life which can’t be forgotten is the obedience to perents. As a rule, the main character is a fighter for independence. Gaelic language in fairy tales is surprisingly simple and precise. It doesn’t contain lots of epithets, story-teller’s introduction, peculiar

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endings. But Scottish tales contain a large number of songs, which reveal mysterious soul of this folk.

5.1 Composition

• English tale is inherent in overlaying episode to episode and repeated its recurrence. This technique enhances the action that leads to the climax and denouement.

• In the English fairy tale is not usually the traditional intonation and endings: lived - were, I was there.

• In English tale more severe outcome.

5.2 The Main Characters

Scottish fairy tales are very diverse. Here and fairy tales involving fictional characters, evil spirits and heroic tales about giants, cannibals and the struggle with them a positive hero, usually a representative of the common people of the peasant's son Jack.

Heroes of some fairy tales are hardworking, honest, noble and brave, some of whom become true national heroes. So, Jack, a peasant's son, the hero tale "Adventures of Jack the Giant-Killer", engaging in combat with the giants, ogres, initially only thinking about the award, but then becomes a true fighter for the liberation of his people from villains, giants.

Heroes of the other Scottish tales are not always virtuous, they are capable of trickery and deception, although different enterprise and energy - traits that are valued in bourgeois Scotland, where the world first began to develop capitalism. For example, tricking the giants, ogres, a girl in the tale of Molly "Molly Whuppie" and Jack in the fairy tale "Jack and the Beanstalk" seek happiness for themselves and their loved ones.

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In the Scottish fairy tales elves and giants roamed the crowd, in English or uelskih occur much less frequently. If there is a question of magical creatures, then they tend to be smaller and closer to animals than to rational beings (kornuollskie pixies, elves tulip). In general, the Scottish tale, albeit a very peculiar, more inclined to the standard continental subjects, whereas the Scottish they are not similar. In the Scottish fairy life and manners of magical creatures (the same as elves, fairies, giants) are registered in detail, and convex, be sure to mention the unwritten rules of interaction between humans and magical creatures. This forces us to assume that in Scotland people lived long enough in contact with the magical creatures and treat them as a whole is neutral, and sometimes even engage in business or friendships.

Magical creatures

Mermaids - being female, having a direct bearing on the water. Further similarities between a mermaid ends.

Greek sirens depicting birds or fish with those beautiful women. Their wonderful voices madden sailors and their ships crashed against the rocks. While all of these myths themselves siren no one wanted to harm.

This same motif is incurring loss of the song went into the European legends. Died from unrequited love, Lorelei his beautiful voice and a gentle person who lures people into a terrible whirlpool, where they inevitably perish.

European and Slavic mermaid - beautiful women with light skin, and sometimes legs of substitute fish tail. They all have beautiful voices, live in ponds, but sometimes like to climb trees in the thickets of forest fairy, and, sitting on the branches of their mysterious songs make passersby to forget the way home.

So, all the mermaids are united by one feature - their songs bewitch people and more often, it is witchcraft has dire consequences. Surviving forget about everything earthly and become slaves to the mermaids, but they, as befits the magical creatures have no souls. And yet, from the usual fairies, mermaids

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markedly different: they all seek to find the soul and find love, forbidden to them. It's about these stories tell of the world famous fairy tale The Little Mermaid Hans Christian Andersen and "The Fisherman and His Soul" Wilde. Both of these stories, of course, have a sad ending; the magical substance can not be a soul. Especially with the mermaid, because mermaids are just the most beautiful girl who died from an unhappy love affair.

Leprechauns.

Hero of the English, Scottish and Irish folklore. Funny tiny creature looks like a wrinkled but crafty old man in a green dress with huge buttons and a hat with the fields, too green. Unlike most other fairies, Leprechaun would not mind a drink, which made his long nose always slightly redder put. Leprechauns love to smoke a pipe and playing dice. But do not play dice with the leprechauns. Knowing the presence of all earthly treasures, this clever man had to share with you. Although Leprechaun refers to no evil fairies, kindness in him is not much, it never helps people nor good nor bad, and loves to poke fun at them.

There is a belief that if you catch Leprechaun, he will perform any three wishes, but never, these desires nobody has brought happiness. First, catch a leprechaun, usually employed in repairing shoes, for which he was nicknamed the shoemaker, is almost impossible. He is clever and dodgy. Secondly, unless you strike a bargain with leprechauns, who had been caught, you cannot take his eyes off him, otherwise he would immediately dissolve into the air. Cannot turn around, no matter what you hear, let alone Leprechaun will try to make sure that you heard something unusual. Third, the Leprechaun performs three wishes as soon as you think about them, but if during the day in your head even though there is one, small, desire, the contract is terminated, and all that has already been done, melt away like smoke. And finally, to anyone and never, not talking about meeting with the leprechauns, otherwise everything performed disappear.

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But if you saw a leprechaun and did not catch it and stop work, play or entertainment shoemaker, then, that day you will have good luck.

Elves - perhaps the most popular fairy-tale creatures, but, despite this, in various fairy tales, they look different: beautiful inside and out, the soldiers, the tiny girl with the wings of butterflies living in the petals of flowers. Where did so much controversy?

Apparently the elves, as well as other magical creatures, their appearance must worship of ancestors. Like other fairies, elves are immortal and live in a magical land, sometimes leaving the ground. Elves are dark and light. Dark vindictive, revengeful, and meeting with them does not bode well. Sometimes, they kidnap people and forever locked in his mysterious hills. Light elves are kind and affectionate, though not without a peculiar sense of humor. Light elves - the most beautiful creatures on earth, their bodies shining with heavenly light unique, but beautiful eyes are always a little sad. Their amazing clothing made from fabrics, unknown to man, as if woven from sunset, rain, or rainbows. Elves are wise and endowed with great taste, they make light the world around them, distilled evil, they have gorgeous locks, they are the best animals, including those often mentioned in legends, white deer. Just beautiful elves dance and play musical instruments.

Over time, the legends and fairy tales, the elves began to change, decrease in growth, and soon became a tiny winged creatures Shakespeare and Andersen. It was the cause witchcraft, or mysterious illness, we do not know. But assume that the outgoing paganism, which belonged to the legend of the beautiful elf remained in people's minds with something ancient, simple and joyous. Therefore, a serious tale, one after another were funny notes, and even beautiful elves lost their enlightened seriousness.

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