The idea that the use of the motif of foreign places and languages in Children’s Fiction is a phenomenon that came up due to globalization sounds evident, but turns out to be misleading. Peter Hunt, Professor Emeritus in Children’s Literature, attributes the interest in foreign cultures to “[…] the desire in the child to comprehend the shape of the world, literally and metaphorically” (Hunt 1994, 179). This has been present in Children’s Literature long time before, most likely in adventure stories and Fantastic Literature, and so the migrant literature is just another way of dealing with it.
In order to find out which effects it has to establish the setting in a place which is unknown to the young readers and to bring them into contact with foreign cultures, I am going to examine four books, written in three different centuries: Mrs. Overtheway’s Remembrances (1869), The Wind Eye (1976), The Granny Project (1983) and The White Darkness (2005). It is interesting to see how this motif works in the mentioned stories, what impact it has on the characters’ life and how it changes them. Therefore I will go further than just describing the relations the protagonists have to the foreign places or languages, but also try to interpret them.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Main Part
2.1 Mrs. Overtheway’s Remembrances
2.2 The Wind Eye
2.3 The Granny Project
2.4 The White Darkness
3. Conclusion
4. Bibliography
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This work examines the recurring motif of foreign places and languages in children's fiction to determine how these settings and encounters influence the protagonists' personal development and worldview. By analyzing four specific novels across different centuries, the study explores whether such literary devices function merely as narrative tools or act as catalysts for character transformation, identity formation, and the promotion of cultural tolerance.
- The impact of foreign environments on character growth.
- The role of parental influence and migrant backgrounds in shaping cultural openness.
- The function of literature as an educational tool for fostering tolerance.
- The use of journeying as a metaphor for exploration and maturation.
- Comparative analysis of how different authors utilize "the other" to challenge protagonists.
Excerpt from the Book
2.4. The White Darkness
In The White Darkness the story is marked by the different foreign places the protagonist Sym travels to. Iceland constitutes the start as we are told that the whole family went there when Sym’s father was still alive. On the one hand its importance lies in the realization her father makes that the idea of the hollow world that he and his friend victor had was wrong and on the other hand Sym finds put in retrospect that her father did not, as Victor always wanted to make her believe, hate her. It is the beginning of Victor’s plan to destroy her family for his vision of the greater good.
Part of this plan was to prepare Sym for their trip to the Antarctica providing her with all the necessary information about this place. What he didn’t know is that Sym developed a special relation to the Antarctic or “The Ice” as she calls it. After having watched a documentary about Scott’s expedition to the South Pole she started imagining Captain Lawrence “Titus” Oates as a friend of hers, telling her about his life and his travels to India, South Africa, Turkey, Belgium and, of course, the Antarctica.
A trip to the Ice becomes Sym’s “dearest wish” (p.24), because she thinks it is the place she belongs to and her knowledge about it is the only thing that makes her stand out in class and in life in general. Therefore she is more than happy when Victor announces he is going to take her to Paris, because this special trip arouses the interest of her classmates as all the others have to write a test meanwhile.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the research scope, highlighting the motif of foreign places in children's literature and outlining the methodology of examining four specific texts.
2. Main Part: This section conducts a detailed analysis of four novels—Mrs. Overtheway’s Remembrances, The Wind Eye, The Granny Project, and The White Darkness—focusing on the protagonists' interactions with foreign cultures and settings.
3. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that foreign settings and cultural encounters serve as catalysts for personal growth, emancipation, and the development of tolerance.
4. Bibliography: This section provides a comprehensive list of primary and secondary sources used to support the research arguments.
Keywords
Children's fiction, migrant literature, foreign cultures, cultural tolerance, character transformation, identity formation, travel motif, narrative setting, literary interpretation, globalization, education, protagonist development, adventure literature, cross-cultural understanding, empathy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The work investigates the function of foreign places and languages in children's fiction and how these elements impact the internal and external lives of the characters involved.
Which specific books are analyzed in the study?
The study analyzes Mrs. Overtheway’s Remembrances (1869), The Wind Eye (1976), The Granny Project (1983), and The White Darkness (2005).
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to understand how the motif of "the other" or foreign settings contributes to the maturation of characters and their ability to navigate complex identities.
What methodology does the author apply?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, evaluating four texts from different historical periods to identify recurring patterns in how children interact with unknown environments.
What is the key takeaway regarding children's literature?
The literature serves as a crucial educational vehicle that challenges readers' perspectives, encourages the use of imagination, and fosters an understanding of diversity.
How would you describe the thematic scope of the work?
The themes include the influence of upbringing on tolerance, the transformative power of travel, the subversion of parental authority, and the role of narrative in empathy.
How does the setting in "The Wind Eye" influence the plot?
The setting in the past, specifically the Northumbrian landscape, forces the characters to confront their own limitations and communicate in ways that transcend verbal language.
What role does the "Ice" play in "The White Darkness"?
The "Ice" acts as a catalyst for the protagonist's emancipation, helping her realize her own strength and independence from toxic influences.
- Quote paper
- Lorena Greppo (Author), 2011, Foreign Places and Languages in Children's Fiction, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/192563
