ԱՐՑԱԽԻ ՄԱՆԿԱԿԱՆ ՀԵՔԻԱԹՆԵՐԸ/CHILDREN FOLKTALES OF ARTSAKH

The aim of the article is to study and analyze existing perspectives within Russianfolklore studies and, based on them, to define the children's folktales of Artsakh as a partof the Armenian folklore tradition.It seeks to identify their thematic and structural features and to clarify theboundaries of children's folktales, recognizing animal tales as a part of children's folklore.The classification of Artsakh animal tales is based on children's age-specificcharacteristics, dividing them into two groups: older children (ages 12–16) and middle-aged children (ages 6–11).The article applies analytical, comparative, and contrastive methods.The study revealed that, similar to other genres of folklore, the fairy tale has largelylost its function in the everyday life of contemporary society. Nevertheless, its adaptationscontinue to circulate through digital media, television, and audiobooks, exerting abeneficial influence not only on children’s behavioral patterns but also on the formation oftheir worldview and the development of free and uninhibited self-expression. In particular,animal tales represent a significant component of children’s cultural experience, thepedagogical value of which contributes to the broader objective of fostering a healthysociety.The study of animal tales from Artsakh gains particular importance not only inpreserving cultural identity but also in shaping national consciousness - especially in theprocess of strengthening the value-based connection between generations.