Transcript Lecture 2 - Themes and interpretations in 3 fantasy worlds

EDU12HCL – History of Children’s Literature
Week 9 lecture 1
Themes and
interpretations in 3
famous fantasy worlds
© La Trobe University, David Beagley 2005
Recommended reading:
Kelly, R. (1999) Lewis Carroll. Twayne’s English
Authors Online. [online] Available: Gale Group –
Literature Resource Center.
Chap. 3: “Dream Child”
Littlefield, H.M. (1964) The Wizard of Oz: parable
on populism. American Quarterly. [online] 16(1):
47-58. Available: JSTOR
Routh, C. (2001) “Man for the Sword and for the
Needle She”: illustrations of Wendy’s role in
J.M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy. Children’s
literature in Education. 32(1): 57-74
Interpretations: Peter Pan, Alice in
Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz
These 3 books are classics.
They are 3 of the most popular, enduring and
influential stories in the whole canon of English
language children’s literature.
And each of them is used to demonstrate just
about every possible meaning analysts can
think of: literary, political, psychological,
social, aesthetic, biographical, mythical,
philosophical, sexual, religious, historical ….
Think of the 4 approaches … then multiply by
lots!
F’rinstance
Peter Pan – a feminist perspective on the role of
Wendy
Routh, C. (2001) “Man for the Sword and for the Needle She”:
illustrations of Wendy’s role in J.M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy.
Children’s literature in Education. 32(1): 57-74
Note:
• Barrie’s own uncertain relationships with his
mother, his wife, and Sylvia Llewellyn Davies.
• Victorian definition of women as home maker
• Sewing: Barrie’s mother, Mrs Darling, Wendy as
child, Wendy as adult
• Wendy’s stated role in Neverland – nurturing the
Lost Boys: story-telling, tucking in, cleaning,
sewing
The feminine role in Peter Pan
• Peter’s natural transition of desire from mother to
lover is arrested because he refuses to grow up.
• So Wendy becomes mother to him, not love interest.
• Confused messages, though, as Tinker Bell is the
jealous other.
• Hook is the adulthood – the father figure - against
which Peter fights, but is also the rival for Wendy
(Note: pantomime tradition of Hook/Mr Darling)
Wendy is needed to restore natural order
to the boys and to Neverland.
Is this an empowering role for the Female, or a
subservient one?
And then …
A socio-psychological perspective on Alice in
Wonderland
Kelly, R. (1999) Lewis Carroll. Twayne’s English Authors Online.
[online] Available: Gale Group – Literature Resource Center.
Chap. 3: “Dream Child”
Note:
• Inversion and mirror images
• Child’s interpretation of the intricacies of the
adult world
• Literal and deliberate mis-interpretations
• Growing up?
Or perhaps …
A political interpretation of The Wonderful
Wizard of Oz
Littlefield, H.M. (1964) The Wizard of Oz: parable on populism.
American Quarterly. [online] 16(1): 47-58. Available: JSTOR
Note:
• 1887-1891 Baum worked in a small prairie town
ravaged by drought and economic hardship
• 1891 he moved to Chicago and wrote WWoOz
while being involved in political campaigns over
corrupt politicians and economic moves on the
gold standard.
• Wicked witches in East and West, Yellow brick
road and silver slippers, country vs city, flying
monkeys
Direct symbolism
• Fantasy literature entails the creation of
worlds, of universes and the making of reality
(and its own logic)
• But it must begin and end here, in our world
• Symbols and allusions - things representing
other things and carrying their meaning
• Emotions and attitudes - the feelings, choices
and reactions of the people
• Concepts and Ideas - what we are given to think
about when the story is over
• Is it real?
• Does it matter?