“BEYOND BORDERS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ENGLISH, KARAKALPAK, AND TURKMEN FOLKLORE”

Öz

Beyond the Horizon: A Comparative Study of English, Karakalpak, and Turkmen Folklore. This article presents a comparative analysis of the folklore traditions of England, Karakalpakstan, and Turkmenistan. By examining iconic folk tales and heroic archetypes, the study explores how distinct landscapes—the English forest, the Karakalpak steppe, and the Turkmen desert—shape national identity and moral values. The research focuses on the "Lucky Adventurer" in English tales, the "Noble Guardian" in Karakalpak epics like Alpamys, and the "Cunning Trickster" in Turkmen stories like Yartygulok. Additionally, it investigates the symbolic role of nature and spiritual animal companions, such as the Central Asian Tulpar. The findings suggest that while geography dictates the setting, all three cultures utilize folklore to celebrate the triumph of wit and courage over adversity. Ultimately, the study concludes that folklore serves as a universal bridge, connecting the shared human experience across Eastern and Western traditions through ancestral wisdom.