Functions of children's characters in Russian fairy tales
The article examines the functional manifestations of child characters in Russian fairy tales. Subject to analysis are plot types that have a paired gender type of children's characters. Drawing on specific textual material and based on the concept of V. Propp, the author interprets the characteristic functions of the heroes, conditioned by the specific content of plot types and the impact of socio-age characteristics. The author takes into account both compositional and gender aspects of the functioning of characters in fairy tales. It is relevant to conduct a comparative analysis of the implementation of the considered issue in fairy tales with an expositional motive of growing up (such as heroic stories, stories about breaking the ban, giving up for sale stories and fleeing from a pest stories) with the stories suggesting the functioning of children throughout the development of the action. Thus, the article summarizes scientific and textual information confirming the variety of functional manifestations in Russian fairy tales with child characters.