Аннотация
This article is devoted to a comparative study of the Kazakh versions of the epic Köroğlu in the versions of Zhienbai and Mezkhojaev. The aim of the research is to reveal the national features of the epic by analyzing the plot structure, character representation, motif system, and poetic composition of each version. The study employs methods of comparative epic studies, textual analysis, and systematization of epic variations. As a result, it is found that while there is stability in the plot line and similarity in motifs between the Zhienbai and Mezkhojaev versions, there are also notable differences in poetic structure, syllabic organization, and rhyme patterns. The findings strengthen the scholarly understanding of the multi-variant nature of Kazakh epics, the historical and cultural role of bardic creativity, and the interpretative nature of epic tradition.