Abstract: The subject of this research is the analysis and application of such notions as symbol, image, metaphor and allegory as part of a set of tools, means and methods of expressing ‘beauty’ in the French symbolist poetry. This subject is developed and based on the phenomenological nature of ‘beauty’ as well as in terms of the aesthetic category by means of defining it within both implicit and explicit aesthetics. The very problem of ‘beauty’ is represented in the poetry of French symbolism, in works of such authors as S. Mallarmé and Ch. Baudelaire. Conclusions on the means of expressing ‘beauty’ in the French symbolist poetry are presented at the end of the article. As far as methods of the research are concerned, there is a variety of combinative totals, such as analysis, comparative analysis, information-analytical base of investigating the subject of the research, application of symbolic images, metaphoricalness and allegoricalness of the poetics of expressing ‘beauty’ in the French symbolist poetry.The author’s particular contribution to the research on the subject is proving the fact - proceeding from the lexical base - that symbol, image, metaphor and allegory are the means of expressing ‘beauty’ in the French symbolist poetry.

Abstract: The subject of the research is the problem of art's conceptuality in the aesthetics of French symbolism and description of actual contradictions. This topic is discussed by using the methods of classification and analysis of the degree of scientific development of the problem in Russian and foreign scientific and practical researches which, on the one hand, complete one another and, on the other hand, allow to define specific features of each aspect. The author of the article analyzes different approaches to studying the art of symbolism as well as describes undeveloped aspects of the topic. The main research method used by the author is the retrospective analysis. The method is used in order to see and understand the logic of the development of French symblolism as well as why it had such a strong impact and was so intensively studied by different branches of science. In her research Maslova underlines the complexity of analyzing the problem and developing the single concept of art in French symbolism. This proves the importance of the present research and allows to combine different scientific approaches to the problem. Having described, classified and analyzed the main Russian and foreign scientific researches on the research topic, Maslova offers her own procedure for developing the methodological basis of the research concerning methodological, methodic and prognostic grounds. The novelty of the research is caused by the fact that the researcher describes the cause-and-effect relationship between actualization of some specific features and themes of French symbolism at the end of the XIXth and XXth centuries and emphasizes the complexity of the categorical framework in the aesthetics of French symbolism.