Genesis and Development of Idyll Genre Theory in Germany in the First Half of the 18<sup>th</sup> Century (from I. H. Gushed to M. Mendelssohn)
The features of formation of idyll genre theory in Germany in the first half of the 18<sup>th</sup> century in the works of I. H. Gushed, S. Gessner, I. A. Schlegel and M. Mendelssohn are considered. The results of comparative analysis of the concepts of German theorists are presented. The novelty of the research is seen in the system covering the approaches to the study of the idyll genre, which have developed in German literary criticism. The research urgency is caused by the consideration of the basic stages of development of idyll genre: (1) utopian modality (the search for “the golden age”) in the concept of I. H. Hatched, (2) social orientation of idylls by S. Gesner, (3) raising the status of the idyll in the genre hierarchy (from the lower to the middle) to the concept of I. A. Schlegel, (4) the rejection of normativity of the genre of idyll in the concept of M. Mendelssohn. The definitions for the terms idyll, eclogue, pastoral are given. The author dwells on the results of the studies described in the major works of these theorists. The fragments of the works inaccessible to the Russian reader are cited and commented. The article represents a synthesis of the experience of the author's work on this topic. It is concluded that in the writings of literature theorists from I. H. Hatched to M Mendelssohn it is possible to note the rationalistic tendencies and the desire to see in idyll genre the reflection of the ideal (“reasonable”) nature.