THE HISTORICAL FIGURE AND THE EPIC HERO IN KAZAKH EPIC POETRY (BASED ON THE EPIC OF EDIGE)

The article is devoted to identifying the historical basis and epic hero of Kazakh epic, which are considered outstanding examples of heroic epic poetry, with particular focus on the “Edige” epic. The study examines the connection between the epic and historical events, as well as the content variations found in its different versions. The actual historical figure and the artistic image of the hero as a folkloric character are analyzed comparatively. There is a distinction between the ratio of historical sources, legendary and mythical elements in the song. The historical poetics of the epic is analyzed in terms of the nature of time and space, plot structure and ideological content. The main goal of the article is to determine the place of the epic of “Edige” in the historical memory of the people and its role in shaping national consciousness and statehood ideas, through a comprehensive analysis of its historical basis and various versions. It also seeks to conduct a thorough study of epic folkloric works of that era and to systematically analyze the ideological and artistic features of the "Edige" epic within the framework of the broader Turkic folkloric tradition. This objective involves a scholarly examination of the epic’s poetic structure and historical content, as well as the interrelationship between the actual historical figure of Edige and his epic representation. The findings of the study contribute to enhancing the significance of Kazakh folklore as a historical source and to a renewed understanding of the national epic tradition.