Constant epithets for the word word. Dictionary of literary terms What is a permanent epithet, what does it mean and how to write it correctly

Few of them modern people, not related to the world of art, are familiar with such a literary term as constant epithets; examples of such expressions are rarely found in colloquial speech of people.

However, such special epithets exist, and this gives us the opportunity to talk about them. Let us consider the origin of these expressions, their existence and scientific study.

Definition of the phenomenon

First, let's define this literary phenomenon. If we ask ourselves what epithets are, the definition and examples of this term, we will learn that an epithet is one of the means of creating imagery literary text. That's why it's called a figurative comparison.

The constant epithet is stable in nature and manifests itself in traditional imagery.

Therefore, this group finds its vivid embodiment primarily in the folklore texts of various peoples living on earth.

Scientific understanding of the problem

It has been proven that constant epithets are most characteristic of oral folk art. Their main difference from other types of epithets is their stable character.

This tradition is continued in literary creativity, closely related to folklore material, which, for example, is the experience artistic literature people. Initially, there was not much color diversity in the culture. The people's understanding of the world and man was based on two colors - white and black. The constant epithets “white” and “black” used by prose writers reflected the symbolic component of the people’s worldview. In mythological representation traditional peoples White color refers to the deities of the Upper World, and black - to the deities of the Lower World. According to mythology, the Upper World is inhabited by good creatures, and in Nizhny - evil. Therefore, each of them needs a different color.

This is where constant epithets are born, examples of which we will give below.

Thus, white means good, divine, and therefore protective. In literature, images with the epithet “black” are most often associated with dynamics - eventful or descriptive. Similar meaning The epithet “black” is also observed in Russian classics. “Black faces” are an archetype of grief, grief. “Bright face” is an image of joy.

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Constant epithet: examples, types, definition, use in literature

Epithets have different specific content. However, in relation to each other they are in an antonymic connection, like the adjectives “white” and “black”.

Let's consider other meanings of the epithet “white”, not related to the idea of ​​a pagan pantheon. In E. Aipin’s story “At the Fading Hearth” the image of the White Tsar is given: “I vividly imagined the White Tsar. He has a white-golden crown-cap on his head, like the Sun before winter weather. White hair, probably from graying. White beard. The white fur coat looks like it is made from the skin of a white deer. White mittens made of white camus. White high boots are also made of white casing. The white king in all white. That's why he's White. And white is the color of life.”

How do they manifest themselves in this text constant epithets, examples of which we just saw in the text?

IN in this case white color is the embodiment of life, natural energy, life-giving forces. It is in this sense that red is contrasted with white in E. Aipin’s story “God’s Message”, in which we're talking about about Lipetsk, who fought on the side of the whites. He does not admit his guilt and says: “No, people will remain. But not the Reds, but simply people with faith, people with God will remain...”

Epithets with negative and positive semantic meaning

Constant epithets, examples of which we see in this work, often include color characteristics as the most archetypal way of understanding the world.

For works of folklore of the peoples of the north (for example, the Khanty), the red color cannot bring life, the beginning of any positive movement, it is always the beginning of the end. In this context, the question that Joseph Sardakov asks in E. Aipin’s story “Russian Doctor” is understandable: “If a red man comes to my land, to my house with a rifle, with a machine gun, with a cannon, what should I do?”

As you can see, the epithet “red” has a negative connotation, and it is used in relation to unkind, evil people.

On the contrary, in works of Russian folklore “red” is a constant epithet with a positive semantic meaning.

Results of the study of epithets with constant meaning

What conclusion can be drawn by studying such a phenomenon as permanent epithet, examples of which are easy to find in works of oral folk art?

The conclusion is the following: archetypal constant epithets (“black”, “red”, “white”, etc.) in works of folklore do not reflect social affiliation at all, but actions and intentions towards others. So, constant epithets in literature, as in folklore, carry within themselves qualitative characteristics that the people endow with certain objects and objects; they become generally recognized archetypes.

This is how a permanent epithet is born, examples of which we examined in this article.

The main task of oral and written speech is communication between people, the ability to convey to each other their thoughts, judgments, assessments and emotions.

At the same time, the emotional side is no less, and sometimes even more important, than the actual component. To express their feelings and impressions, humanity has come up with many ways, one of which is the use of various epithets in speech. What it is? Let's figure it out.

Word "epithet" It has Ancient Greek origin and means "applied". Essentially, it is an addition to the main word or concept, designed to make it more expressive and vibrant.

Most often, adjectives become epithets, but other parts of speech can also play this role - adverbs, numerals and even nouns. The epithet usually comes before the main word, but this is not necessary. This may not be one word, but a whole expression that gives a stable concept a new semantic or emotional connotation.

In literary work, epithets are used extremely widely. Most saturated with them poetic works, however, in prose and even in everyday speech, this powerful speech tool is also actively used.


Like any others visual arts, epithets have developed and improved over time, which can be seen by analyzing literary works past and present.

IN folk art and in the earliest literary works, epithets, as a rule, describe the properties of objects and phenomena, highlighting them key features, but practically without touching on the emotional, personal component: beautiful maiden, red gold, untold riches .

With the development of literature, the role and structure of epithets became more complex, acquiring new properties and functional content. This was most clearly expressed in the works of poets Silver Age and subsequent period: the stupid plate clanged out, the edge of the limit, the lazy-passionate rosehip etc.

Modern literature, especially postmodern works, have further complicated both the structure and semantic content of epithets, sometimes allowing for very unusual expressive techniques: Diathesis bloomed, the diapers turned golden .

Epithets – important element speech, giving it expressiveness, prominence and emotionality. With their help, the narrator gets the opportunity to express his attitude towards the objects being described or present them to listeners/readers in a new, unusual light.


Often, with the help of epithets, the atmosphere is recreated historical era, social group or ethnic flavor. This powerful tool to convey visual images, their emotional and artistic content in words.

Both epithets and metaphors are widely used by poets and prose writers to create vivid works of art. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish which is an epithet. However, if you approach the issue thoughtfully, the difference becomes obvious.

An epithet is a figurative definition that describes a stable attribute of the depicted object, creature or concept: fragrant apple, instant reaction, silent witness . Most often it is expressed in one word, complementing the main word and describing its inherent property. An epithet cannot exist on its own and is always an addition.

At the same time, a metaphor is almost always a speech construct of several words that carry an independent semantic function - they transfer the properties or image of one object or concept to another.

The metaphor evokes in the mind an associative connection between seemingly completely different concepts, actions or things. This association only works for this specific case: a scattering of dewy pearls on the grass, the winter cold reigned in the heart etc.

It is easy to see that an epithet can be part of a metaphor. Metaphor will never be part of an epithet.

Descriptive epithets: lead cloud, fragrant flower, fun bouncing, gentle waves .

Constant epithets, or folklore and poetic: good fellow, open field, clear falcon, sharp sword .


Metaphorical epithets: winter silver, sad friendship, mourning border, piercing gaze .

Metonymic epithets: scratching whisper, birch cheerful tongue .

Any classification is quite conditional, since the same epithet can successfully be included in several different classification groups.

What is a "permanent epithet"? How to spell given word. Concept and interpretation.

permanent epithet one of the tropes of folk poetry: a definition word that is consistently combined with one or another defined word and designates in the subject some characteristic, always present generic sign (a pillar path, a red maiden, a good fellow, a blue sea, a clean field, black clouds) . Such P. e. (see epithet) were a means of typification. Moreover, a word used with P. e. acquires a new quality, a meaning that differs in meaning from each of the words separately. The combination red maiden means “ beautiful girl, no different from others in anything special: neither more beautiful, nor smarter, nor richer than others.” If an ancient storyteller or singer needed to characterize the special properties of his characters, he looked for an epithet of an individualizing nature. Prince Vladimir, who is planning to get married, wants to find a bride worthy of his princely title, and creates the image of an ideal, from his point of view, girl: As if that girl were stately in figure, stately in figure and accomplished in mind, her white face, as if white snow... The role of P. e. in folklore is huge. They are one of the main means artistic expression epics and songs, tales and legends. Some P. e. are widely used in all types of folklore: good fellow, clean field, blue sea, dark forests, green meadows. Others are found primarily in certain genres of folk poetry, while performing specific ideological and artistic functions. For example, P. e. is widely used in fairy tales. fantastic character: golden palace, crystal bridge, underground kingdom, firebird, flying carpet. In the epics of P. e. serve as an important tool in creating images of heroes, describing their armor and the situation of battles: mighty hero, good horse, red-hot arrow, damask club. Unlike epic genres folklore, where P. e. play a mainly descriptive and figurative role; in folk poetry, the function of poetic e.g. predominantly expressive, emotional and evaluative. For example, in traditional lyrical songs the following emotional and evaluative E. are often found: dear mother, dear father, dear friend, soul-maiden, poor little head, burning tears. P. e. are specific. ditties: cheerful little girl, dear fun, sweet drolya, desperate little head. P. e. found in epic poetry different nations. Thus, Homer’s “Iliad” is characterized by P. e.: cloud-catcher Zeus, pink-fingered Eos, silver-legged Thetis. Lit.: Epithet in Russian folk art. - M., 1980; Lazutin S.G. Poetics of Russian folklore. - M., 1981; see also lit. to the article Epithet. L.E. Tumina

one of the tropes of folk poetry: a definition word that is consistently combined with one or another defined word and designates in the subject some characteristic, always present generic sign (a pillar path, a red maiden, a good fellow, a blue sea, a clean field, black clouds) . Such P. e. (see epithet) were a means of typification. Moreover, a word used with P. e. acquires a new quality, a meaning that differs in meaning from each of the words separately. The combination red maiden means “a beautiful girl, no different from others: neither prettier, nor smarter, nor richer than others.” If an ancient storyteller or singer needed to characterize the special properties of his characters, he looked for an epithet of an individualizing nature. Prince Vladimir, who is planning to get married, wants to find a bride worthy of his princely title, and creates the image of an ideal, from his point of view, girl: As if that girl were stately in figure, stately in figure and accomplished in mind, her white face, as if white snow...

The role of P. e. in folklore is huge. They are one of the main means of artistic expression of epics and songs, tales and legends. Some P. e. are widely used in all types of folklore: good fellow, clean field, blue sea, dark forests, green meadows. Others are found primarily in certain genres of folk poetry, while performing specific ideological and artistic functions. For example, P. e. is widely used in fairy tales. fantastic character: golden palace, crystal bridge, underground kingdom, firebird, flying carpet. In the epics of P. e. serve as an important means in creating images of heroes, describing their armor and the situation of battles: a mighty hero, a good horse, a red-hot arrow, a damask club. In contrast to the epic genres of folklore, where P. e. play a mainly descriptive and figurative role; in folk poetry, the function of poetic e.g. predominantly expressive, emotional and evaluative. For example, in traditional lyrical songs the following emotional and evaluative E. are often found: dear mother, dear father, dear friend, soul-maiden, poor little head, burning tears. P. e. are specific. ditties: cheerful little girl, dear fun, sweet drolya, desperate little head.

P. e. found in the epic poetry of different peoples. Thus, Homer’s “Iliad” is characterized by P. e.: cloud-catcher Zeus, pink-fingered Eos, silver-legged Thetis.

Lit.: Epithet in Russian folk art. - M., 1980; Lazutin S.G. Poetics of Russian folklore. - M., 1981; see also lit. to the article Epithet.

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