Rudakova N. Artistic transformation of cossack's character in Ukrainian folk prose

The system model of cossack's character incarnate in Ukrainian folk prose (legends, fairy-tales, retelling) is examined in dissertation, comparatively with other genres of Ukrainian folklore (ballads, historical songs and proverbs). The author examines the Ukrainian folk historical epos as genetically heterogeneous system, which was folded not only by the recreation of historical events and facts but also as a result of re-comprehension of ethnic consciousness of more archaic, - mythological and folk-lore - to material, that entailed becoming and claim of national Ukrainian mentality.The historical and cultural contexts of origin, forming and development of the phenomenon of the cossacks are described in detail. It is traced the dynamics of appearance of epic hero-cossack through basic descriptions (education, fraternization, attitude toward a woman, cossack men family) and artistic details of attributive type (horse/magic helper, sabre/weapon, red color), beginning from the indo-european base of military tradition for Ukrainians.