Symbolism of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s fairy tales: to the issue of teaching works of verbal art

The article dwells upon symbols in “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by E.T.A. Hoffmann viewing them in terms of ethical and philosophical content of a romanticist masterpiece, as well as accepting them as a means of the didactic sphere. The authors claim the essential role of literary works in key pedagogical principle realisation. These pedagogical principles, such as forming critical thinking, imagination and systematization skills along with aesthetic taste and literary text interpretation, establish the basis of the contemporary humanitarian education. Teaching deep reading enhances professional competencies of future specialists in various fields of humanitarian sciences. Moreover, it broadens students’ cultural background and forms everyday and professional communication competencies. Hoffmann’s fairytale was chosen due to its complex inner content and deep symbolic value. The study of the text chosen illustrates the philological reading approach as a vitally important didactic principle.