IMAGE OF CROCODILE IN THE CONTEXT OF MODERN SIBERIAN LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN
In the twentieth century the literature for children creates its own tradition of using of crocodile image. Korney Chukovskiy pioneered the use of this image. His version of the character has become very well known, researchers have linked it with the manifestation of the spirit of St. Petersburg. In the second half of the century, the authors repeatedly use the image of crocodile. It makes sense to refer literary works that explore this type, such as a book by K. A. Bogdanov “About crocodiles in Russia. Sketches from the history of borrowing and exoticisms” (2006). This animalistic exoticism reflects the intention of poetry to express the absurd, paradoxicalness. The latest Siberian literature for children also uses this exotic image. We explore texts of poems by several autors of contemporary Siberian poetry for children such as Bergelson, Sirotin, Eroshin, Olear in order to illustrate changes in the mythology of crocodile, and in the deployment of this icon. Conflict of friend-or-foe is developing in the regional literature. Rare animal loses its naturalistic features. In poems this monster is able to evolve constantly. This paper presents the typology of the different animalistic signs, describes the process of image formation. It is an attempt to develop a theoretical basis for the perception of this image. The study concludes that the image of crocodile expresses many symbolic meanings of particularly convincing way, with preservation of artistic and emotional integrity.