Michel Tournier's philosophical tales: the variety of genre

The article analyses the peculiarities of such genre as philosophical tale among the works by M. Tournier, the basic forms of the genre are being described and commented on. The main attention is given to the genres of Christmas tale and Initiation tale. The conclusion is made that Tournier's Chistmas tale follows the tradition of Ch. Dickens and developes a set of Christian motives. The initiation plot is being used in the tale "Amandine or Two Gardens".