This article is devoted to the history and development of the animalistic genre, including its representation of animal imagery in literary works, the complex relationship between humans and animals, its symbolic significance, and the genreʼs role in literature and its historical origins. The author posits a scientific and theoretical perspective regarding the animalistic genre in literature, which portrays animals not only as a component of the natural world but also as a vehicle for exploring human concerns and a useful tool for social commentary. The article examines the literary works of English authors who wrote in the animalistic genre, including Jonathan Swift, William Roscoe, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, Herbert Carpenter, and Michael Morpurgo. The focus is on identifying the unique characteristics of their works in this genre. It also highlights the role of animal images in reflected human character traits and social problems, as well as the symbolic meaning of animals. In addition, the article employs comparative and cultural-historical analysis methods to investigate the proliferation of animal depictions in English literature and their distinct stylistic characteristics. The examination of the elements of the animalistic genre in English literature, the representation of interactions between animals and humans, its gradual evolution and the continued representation of this genre are also examined from a scientific-theoretical point of view.