THE EPIC AND LYRIC POWER OF THE HORSE IN TEXTS FROM THE SERBIAN LANGUAGE CURRICULUM

Abstract

The paper discusses the role of the horse as a character in popular literature. It aims to demonstrate the often overlooked significance of the horse in works of popular epic and lyric poetry, stories and traditions. Special attention is devoted to Šarac, the horse of Marko Kraljević. Šarac cries, shows anger, drinks wine and has premonitions of Marko’s death. Analysis of the works in which Šarac and other horses appear demonstrates their significance to the hero as a symbol and essential component of the hero’s image, but also draws attention to other qualities and roles – the horse as power, comfort, source of sadness, loyalty, desire, trophy, apple of discord, beauty, pride, obstacle, helper, source of danger, promise, etc.