Approach to study of the people's mentality of the western European medieval

The article analyzes the approach of A.Ya. Gurevich to the identification of the mentality of the illiterate part of the population of the Western European Middle Ages. To discover the features of the folk picture, A.Ya. Gurevich refers to the study of literary genres composed by the clergy for the parishioners. In the process of studying these primary sources, the medievalist shows the transformation of the Christian religion under the influence of the folk-magical consciousness of the masses.