Abstract: The subject of this research is the axiological worldview of the Russian epos, while the subject is value focus of the epic character (namely the Three Bogatyrs in the Kievan-Rus' epic poem cycle). Main attention is given to changeability of inner world of the epic poem (bylina) characters, substantiated by the bard’s representation on the presence of causal relationship of the hero’s specific motives with his actions and consequences of these actions. The author interprets the particular themes that comprise the variants of epic poems, as a sensible artistic solution of a storyteller aimed at realization of the genre function of bylina and dictated by the parameters of communication situation. The article uses the method of axiological analysis of epic poems, examining the difference of assessments of the epic character, bard, and listener. For each of the analyzed epic poems, the author determines: the vector of inner conflict (specific weakness or passion that overwhelms a character and he has to fight; usually it is what evokes sympathy in the listener); moment of captivity with sinful desire; moment of committing a wrongful action; demonstration of the effect of religious law that links crime with punishment; punishment of the hero – repentance or demise. The author’s contribution consists in the axiological determination of epic motif alongside principles of the new classification of bylina themes, as well as the statement that the goal of a bard lies in changing value coordinates of the same action of the character in mind of a listener. It is concluded that the traditional act of performing an epic poem could begin with selection of a set of themes by a bard, based on his own assessment of the weak and strong sides of the listeners, their age, profession, social and family status.

Abstract:  
The subject of this research is the concept of heroism (bogatyrs) as an element of Russian epic mentality. The focus of attention is the peculiarities of epic understanding of bogatyr power that excludes the interpretation by an epic bard of “his” character as a giant. Meanwhile, the popular in science representation of particular characters of the Russian Epos (Svyatogor, Mikula Selyaninovich, Ilya Muromets) as giants is caused by their idealization, convergence of an epic with a tale or myth, as well as readiness to proliferate upon epics such laws of poetics that are considered universal from the perspective of ethnographic theory and strive of the scholars of mythological school to distinguish in epic heroes the characters of the ancient religious systems. Based on the analysis of epic records, the author demonstrates that the bogatyrs are not giant, but rather look as regular people. Special attention is given to the adjustment of a receptive stereotype, associated with perception of the epic image of Svyatogor, caused by a distorted interpretation of this image by illustrators of the epics in the XIX century.