Abstract
The image and symbolism of childhood present an outstanding typological feature of every culture, historical period as well as of every individual consciousness. Research into this topic as it evolved in the history of literature is crucially important to understand more general transformations of the artistic image of man and, consequently, of trends and genres in literature as well as poetical styles of individual authors.
Such research oscillates in between literary theory and history of literature. Russian literature contributed profoundly to the reflexion of the childhood phenomenon by European cultures.
The present paper analyses the development of this reflexion in the context of social development and scientific conceptions of childhood since the medieval ages up to the present time with particular attention to the 19th century literature.