FOLKLORE ELEMENTS IN S.V. MAKSIMOV''S STORY "THE MIDWIFE-SORCERESS"
Folk culture is an indispensable component of S.V. Maksimov's works. The article reveals the role of folklore in the creative history of S.V. Maksimov's story «Midwife-sorceress» and presents a detailed analysis of the work. The abundance of folkloric inclusions and elements of various genres of folk poetry introduced into the text testify to the indissolubility of the origins of the people's life and its culture. There are many folk omens, superstitions, songs, tales, proverbs and sayings in the story. Proverbs and sayings contribute to a comprehensive characterization of the story's protagonists. The songs are a complement to the psychological portrait, revealing the characters' inner world. Rituals related to the birth of a child are rendered with great accuracy. Aiming to give as full a picture as possible, S.V. Maksimov includes in his story calendar folklore, specifies the time when the rites are performed. Folk calendar is an indispensable element of the narrative through which the writer introduces readers to the folk traditions.