Axiology of literary criticism: an experiment in establishing the concept

The article poses the problem of the dependence of the understanding of literature on the position of the subject of its description (interpretation). The already existing in science historical-literary and mythopoetic contexts of understanding are singled out. A new context of understanding is suggested, which results from the existence of different types of cultures, types of mentalities. The Orthodox image of the world, the Orthodox mentality is present in the subtext of Russian literature. However, for its adequate scientific description, it is necessary to overcome the radical divergence of the ethical and aesthetic values ​​of literary scholars who studied Russian literature and the values ​​of literature itself.