5.3 Moral Values in Scottish Fairy Tales.

Thanks to Scottish folk tales we can understand national traditions and customs of these people. Their moral values become more clear for Russian people who are interested in folklore.

The sence of national patriotism and national identity is very important for the Scots. Scottish people struggled hard for their independence and it was revieled in their national ballads, legends and tales. Scottish people like and observe their national traditions. These people are reserved and firm in their decisions, they love their land deeply. They are courageous and never give in. They can ovecome lots of difficulties and achieve the goal. It is interesting to know that such personal quality as stubbornness is veiwed as positive. It is important for the Scots to defend their land, family and friends as well as their ancient traditions and way of life. Very often Scottish people are described as cunning and intelligent. It is necessary to mention that Scottish people are practical and prudent. They don’t act immediately, before doing something they are used to think hard.

Harsh climate of Scotland and cold winters had a strong influence on the tradition of hospitality. Heroes of Scottish fairy tales and legends are respected and valued by the laws of hospitality, offering the visitor shelter and food, and sometimes do not leave the guest up until they are eaten all offered him a treat.

A deep analysis of their values and behaviour of these people show how national culture is preserved in Scotland. Compared to Russian tales such quality as laziness is not acceptable for the Scotts and it is concidered to be a negative quality.

Great importance is attached to such quality as diligence. Only hard work and ingenuity help the main characters of fairy tales and ballads of Scottland to gain success.

On the other hand, we can find some similarities between a set of values of the two countries. For example, such qualities as will power, courage, patriotism, heroism, witness and reticence are common to Scottis and Russian people.

18

The main material of the research was selected Scottish and Russian folklore, who, being older than written literature, and passed from mouth to mouth, from generation to generation, is a valuable source for understanding the history of the people. Cultural studies also often use folklore as a source that contains valuable information about the culture. For this study, we chose the most common and well-presented folk genres - fairy tales, ballads and legends.

Of all the genres of folklore tale is the most structured and more than all other genres of obeying certain laws. Fairy tale is the oldest source of generic cultural studies and is linked to its warehouse and maintenance to other monuments of folk art. It contains information about the life and traditions, views of the people about man, about nature, about unexplained phenomena. Tale reflects the national characteristics and peculiarities of individual nations and at the same time it generates.

For them, it is essential to achieve the goals, protect their land, family and friends, as well as centuries-old traditions and rules of life.

For Scot courage and luck in a variety of matters, primarily related to intelligence and even cunning. Deceive the enemy an honor, especially when there is an opportunity not only to achieve this goal, but also the ridicule of the enemy, while receiving any material benefit.

The harsh climate of Scotland and cold winters have had a strong influence on the tradition of hospitality. Heroes of Scottish fairy tales and legends are respected and valued by the laws of hospitality, offering the visitor shelter and food, and sometimes do not leave the guest up until they are eaten all offered him a treat.

Mention should also be of such traits as frugality and practicality. It appears that the Scot is not inclined to commit rash acts, it is guided by the voice of reason and rationality to figure out how a particular action will be beneficial for him.

19

Analysis of these values and behavioral categories in specific contexts shows how the presence of a national culture, moral and ethical views, and the existence of individual assessments of human behavior in different situations.

Great importance is attached to this quality as diligence. If to compare with the heroes of Russian fairy tales, laziness is not acceptable for the Scot, and it is considered a negative quality. Only hard work and ingenuity to help the heroes of fairy tales and ballads of Scottish success.

The comparative analysis of several Scottish and Russian fairy tales it possible to notice some similarity core set of values and ethical concepts for Scottish and Russian peoples. For example, qualities such as willpower, courage, patriotism, heroism, cunning and practicality are common to Scottish and Russian folk heroes.

Largely observed a similar attitude to these qualities and values in Russian and Scottish societies.

20