In order to understand the way in which children (and adults) relate to the Harry Potter characters one must have an understanding of several psychological theories. The first of which is a method of social learning used by psychologists in order to enhance the lives of children with autism or other developmental disorders but the effectiveness of this method is not limited to this group (Gray and Garand). A story is created by the therapist in order to prepare the child for a situation they may encounter by mimicking possible outcomes of the situation as well as prescribing the child’s reaction to these events. It is important that the child relates to the main character (possibly bearing the same name) in order to have an empathetic experience …show more content…
Lacassagne ponders the issue of how to describe to children the horrors of the past when they have no personal investment in the matter; nor are they likely to encounter a person with personal experience as many of these horrors are now in the distant past. Thus, an author of a narrative such as the Harry Potter series has a unique opportunity. The author has the ability to utilize the connection formed between the child and the characters of their narrative to elicit an emotional response to an allegorical event which reflects the collective history of the world. By using this connection, one is able to give the children some idea of the magnitude of these events. This, Lacassagne explains, is what Rowling has done in the Harry Potter series. She depicts the series as a prolonged and detailed replication of the Second World War …show more content…
By allowing children to associate themselves with strong, “postmodern” child heroes (292) the child will be able to take a stronger role in their own life. Through narratives such as Harry Potter, children are able to gain an understanding of the complexities of relationships and personalities. This gives a child the ability to question what they are told and the ability to question the world. This in contrast to classic fairy tales which, as Chappell describes, functions on a “simple binary of good [or] evil” (282) and do not provide a sufficient explanation of the world to children. Most fairy tales leave children at a disadvantage in their societies, unaware that they can question the adults in their life. Thus, in this work, Chappell encourages parents to read narratives such as the Harry Potter series with their children so that the child may learn lessons about “ambiguity, agency [and] resistance” (292). These imperative skills for children are often difficult for a parent to teach but must be learned in order for a child to become an active part of their own
Virginia Stem Owens, in “Telling the Truth in Lies,” reveals that reasoning, by fictional stories, provides an effective way of knowledge for children. In this short essay, Virginia Stem Owens explains that children learn about the world through the lens of fiction. They make sense of the world, by using these stories to make connections with the world around them. The author reveals this when she gives her experience with fictional stories. She describes it as the place where she realized that “understanding and hope nourished.”
When readers read a story written by an author they will usually think that the author likes to read books and is what led the author to writing a book. William Goldman said, “As a child, I had no Interest in reading” (Goldman 3), this can lead readers to imagining the author as a young child rather than an adult not wanting to read a book. When Readers imagine the author as a young child the image imagined can give a better sense of how the author felt as a young child. The imagination of a child giving the reader a picture to think about is less complex than that of a adult giving a reader a picture to think about.
Maria Tatar’s “An Introduction to Fairy Tales” discusses the impact on how the stories help guide the children from their younger age. The first five paragraphs of the article mentioned about how the children can overflow with imagination, and can vividly see their reality of desire and also, fear. The fairytales can also corrupt the naïve minds of the child in a way of making them realize the reality of the world is unjustified, and people can be harsh. Moreover, Tatar gives an explanation on how people grow up with the same fairy tales with different versions; which gives an entirely different personal idea. Fairy tales also develop the child’s intellectual mind by reading various kinds of genre.
The fairy tale helps the child to understand a balance between the good and the evil; it gives him a hope for a good future.” Fairy tales assure the
Fantasy allows children to stimulate their imagination, develop abilities, clarify emotions, and understand the difficulties in life, while at the same time suggesting solutions to problems. However, it is impossible for “realistic” stories to do the same. These lifelike stories are often uninteresting, complicated, meaningless, and do not provide their readers with psychological contentment. As a result, authors like Bruno Bettelheim deeply express the importance of fairy tales for children and kids alike. Therefore, in my estimation, a child might be comforted and experience growth and awareness through the viewing of fantasy stories like The Wizard of Oz due to the
Notably exempt from the essay is Tatar’s refutation or concession of the influence of modern novels and stories on young readers. Clearly, if fairy tales have a lasting power over children under 14 years old, then other genres are capable of having the same impact. However, her avoidance of the subject suggests societies shift from aged fairy tales to futuristic novels has the same impact on children. Furthermore, the “beauty, horror, marvels, violence, and magic” of fairy tales can now be found in fantasy novels, like The Hobbit(55). Therefore, the necessity of out of date stories with words abandoned terminology would decrease as younger generations grow older. Also, research studies have shown that individuals that are exposed to violent books and stories tend to be more aggressive and angry because literature is more interactive. As a result, more parents could be reducing their children’s exposure to fairy tales from authors like the Grimm brothers as a precaution. Thus, there could be underlying justification for the lack of interest in fairy tales. Although Tatar failed to include concessions in her work, she did
J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, which have reached worldwide popularity have an effect on children has not been matched by any other book. The novels have encouraged children to read for entertainment instead of turning to television or video games. When a piece of literature inspires children as the Harry Potter novels do, limiting a child’s access to the novels seems ridiculous. Unfortunately, this is what is happening with Harry Potter. The books are challenged and banned in schools and libraries all over the world because parents contend that the content is unsuitable. The content, which revolves around a world full of wizardry and witchcraft, has some parents actively
In the modern world, children’s literature, fairy tales, and fiction books influence our childhood and early development. In the 1500’s and 1600’s no children’s literature for entertainment existed, they had educational books. As babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, my parents and teachers read us books after books. It is proven that reading to young kids is important for their imagination, vocabulary, and communication skills in early life.
Harry Potter is a fictional character invented by J.K Rowling in the series of seven books starting with Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone and ending with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Wikipedia, 2015). Harry is the main character in this series whose parents died when he was young and he was brought up by his aunt and uncle (Philosopher’s Stone, 1997, p.5). Harry was neglected by his aunt and uncle (Philosopher’s Stone, 1997, p.27). Harry is presented a whole new reality when he goes to the zoo one day and his integration into the magical world changes him from the foundation. These changes within him will be analysed using the developmental psychology theories of Lawrence Kohlberg and Erik Erikson to explain how the environment aided or obstructed Harry’s development.
The tradition of telling fairy tales to children effects not only the listener but also the reader. Maria Tatar, in her book Off with Their Heads!, analyzes how fairy tales instill and reaffirm cultural values and expectations in their audience . Tatar proposes that fairy tales fall into three different tale-types: cautionary tales, exemplary stories, and reward- and- punishment tales. These three types portray different character traits as desirable and undesirable. Due to the tale’s varying literary methods it can change the effectiveness of the tale’s pedagogical value. In Tatar’s opinion, all of these tales are similar in the way they attempt to use punishment, reward, and fear to encourage or discourage certain behaviors. In the cautionary fairy tale “The Virgin Mary’s Child”, the use of punishment and fear to discourage certain behaviors is enhanced by the Christian motifs and values employed by the tale. These literary devices encourage the audience to reflect on and internalize the lessons that are presented in the fairy tale.
Explore how Scenes 20-23 represent the ability of children to verbalise their frustrations or their concerns. Scenes 20-23 show the children at their “Peak desperation”, and their most emotionally vulnerable. This is shown to have been caused by the escaped prisoner of war or “Itie”, from whom the children are hiding. When “The six run in a ragged formation”, we are shown the fear that is causing the children to be unable to express their concerns. In order to show the fear of the children, Potter uses adults to play the roles of children.
J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series has become one of the most popular children’s series in the world over the past decade. Through these books children and young adults alike have delved into a fantastical world in which they explored the problems that their protagonist, Harry Potter, has faced. In Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, the sixth book of the Harry Potter series, Harry dealt with the challenge of proving to his peers and professors that Draco Malfoy and Severus Snape were no longer trustworthy. Even so, Harry failed to realize that the author of the notes in his Advanced Potion-Making book was corrupt. In this book, J.K. Rowling uses point of view, style, and irony to demonstrate the need for people to be more analytical
One of the main reasons for the success of Rowling’s Harry Potter is the universality of the different story elements which - unconsciously, perhaps - subtly satisfies readers. By cleverly weaving the characteristic archetypes that famous psychotherapist Carl Gustav Jung mapped out in the year 1947, Rowling illustrates multiple fairytale tropes. In The Philosopher’s Stone, she incorporates one such element: the archetype of the ‘shadow’, whereby the narrative of ‘evil’ and ‘good’ is put to question—and an underlying discourse on the Taoist concept of yin and yang emerges. By this notion, the presence of Voldemort is necessary for the completion of Harry’s character as a whole. By advancing this, Rowling has helped raise a generation—to the
Literary heroes that are also ordinary children are engaging to readers, particularly child readers. James Pope and Julia Round write that “Roald Dahl is a fascinating author in that his books for children feature child heroes who are very often neither hero nor villain, but a wild, subversive combination of both” (258). These characteristics are also true of Coraline and Harry Potter, as they are presented as imperfect, but ultimately find the power within themselves to save what is important to them. Children readers are empowered by Coraline and Harry because they identify with these ordinary children and feel as if they can also make a difference in their lives, as the characters defeat the evil in theirs.
The Harry Potter series is an international literature phenomenon that is both criticised and cherished. Penned by renowned author J.K. Rowling the story of the boy wizard seems to break the barriers of age, race, religion and gender with the range of its fans. This investigation focuses on the Harry Potter series and intends to answer the question of Harry Potter: Selfish or Selfless under the topic of Altruism in Contemporary Young Adult Literature. This investigation is a literature review; unlike a science experiment this report requires are more in-depth analysis of literature on the chosen topic. The intentions of the research are to investigate the topic of Altruism within the Harry Potter series, specifically the choices and