In the article the contextual conditionality of the actualization of the symbolic meaning of the lexemes “wild boar” and “deer” in the comparative constructions by the material of the French epic poems and chivalric romances of the XII century is analyzed. The authors describe the peculiarities of medieval symbols, point out their ambivalent character, and reveal the patterns of actualization of the symbol in various comparative constructions. In the work, the comparative analysis of comparative constructions, including the lexemes “wild boar” and “deer” is made, the similarities and the differences in the functioning of these constructions, depending on the genre of the text, are presented.