The Role of Reality in Children's Literature - Essay Example

? The Role of Reality in Children’s Literature The Role of Reality in Children’s Literature Introduction The most common description of children’s literature is those books written specifically for children. According to Nancy Anderson, an associate professor at University of South Florida’s College of Education, children’s literature is defined as all the books written for children. This does not include joke books, comic books or cartoon books and any other non-fiction work that is not meant to be read from front to back such as encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference materials (Chapleau, 2004). Defining children’s literature has also been marred with controversy because another kind of overlooked children’s literature is the books written by children, and not only books written for children (Anderson, 2006). Children’s literature varies by genre such as fiction, non-fiction, biography, traditional literature, picture books and poetry and verse (Huck, 2001). These genres are all characterized by unique features such as those containing fantasy or reality. The role of fantasy and reality in children’s literature has always been an issue of great discussion (Anderson, 2006). The effectiveness of some works of literature meant for children have been measured on the basis of those works either being based on fantasy or reality. It has also been based on the grounds of the work being based on recent facts or history (Lesnik-Oberstein, 2004). This paper identifies one work of literature aimed at children with the aim of analyzing the role of reality in that literature and in children’s literature in general. This essay summarizes the message communicated to that work in regard to social and family values. It also discusses the structural devices and literally elements used in the work along with signals that show the work is based on history. The historical work of fiction that I have chosen for this paper is the story of Pinocchio. The story of Pinocchio introduces us to a piece of wood that lived centuries ago. The wood was just a common plank of wood that could be used as firewood. This piece of wood found itself in the shop of Mastro Antonio, a carpenter that was commonly known as Mastro Cherry because the tip of his nose looked like a ripe cherry because it was round, red and shiny. Mastro Cherry was very happy to see the piece of wood because he had been looking for one to use in making the leg of a table. As he was just about to peel off the bark from the piece of wood, he had a little voice asking him to be careful not to hit it so hard (Anderson, 2006). He was utterly surprised and frightened at the same time because he turned to look under the bench, in the closet, up and down the street but could still not establish where the voice had come from. He went back to his work and he took his hatchet and struck the wood really hard. The same little voice that had cried out earlier was heard saying that Mastro Cherry had hurt him. The carpenter was now shocked beyond words and he only waited to see things unfold while wondering where the voice had come from. He was in fact scared half to death and did not know what to do to (Lesnik-Oberstein, 2004). In that moment of shock, there was a knock at the door and an old man named Geppetto came in. The boys of the hood called him Polendina because he wore wig with the color of yellow corn. Geppetto came to the shop with the intention of asking the carpenter to make him a wooden marionette. When the piece of wood referred to the old man as Polendina, he was very angry and a fight ensued. The two old men buried the hatchet and Mastro Cherry gave Geppetto the piece of wood. Geppetto got home and fashioned the piece of wood into the much desired marionette that he had long desired. He named the marionette Pinocchio. That is when the pranks of Pinocchio began (Huck, 2001). Geppetto would use Pinocchio at shows so as to earn his daily bread. Life went on and Pinocchio met the talking cricket at the house. Pinocchio gets hungry and looks for an egg so as to make himself an omelet. The omelet surprisingly flies out the window. Pinocchio suddenly falls asleep and has his feet on a foot warmer. The next day, he wakes up with all his feet burnt out. Geppetto comes back home and gives Pinocchio his own breakfast because of what the marionette had gone through. Geppetto soon makes a new pair of feet for Pinocchio and proceeds to sell his coat so as to buy the marionette an A-B-C book (Russell, 2009). Pinocchio is soon given the A-B-C book but he sells it so as to pay for the entrance into the marionette theatre. While at the marionette theatre, the other marionettes recognize their brother Pinocchio (Anderson, 2006). They proceed to greet him with very loud cheers. Periodically throughout the story, Pinocchio is seen to be very disobedient. He totally refuses to take his medicine and continually eats sugar. He gets used to telling lies from time to time. As a punishment for his lying, his nose grew longer and longer every time he told a lie (Chapleau, 2004). Pinocchio engages in gambling by sowing pieces of gold in the field of wonders as advised by the cat and the fox. He gets jailed for four months as a punishment for this. Whenever Pinocchio does a good deed, he gets rewarded and whenever he does a bad deed, a punishment follows (Lesnik-Oberstein, 2004). For example, when he helped the farmer to discover the thieves, he is rewarded for being faithful and regains his freedom and liberty. Pinocchio tells the fairy that he will turn into a boy by the next day but he fails to do this and instead runs away with his friend to the land of toys. He turns into a real donkey and his ears become like those of a donkey and he even begins to fray like a donkey. The twists and turns continue and Pinocchio’s unruly character is depicted through his actions. As the story comes to an end, Pinocchio changes from being a marionette and becomes a normal boy (Huck, 2001). The message that is communicated in the story is that the people who listen to their elders are better placed at succeeding in the things that they do. What we learn in relation to family and social values is the importance of telling the truth in any situation. We also learn the consequences of not telling the truth as well as the rewards of being honest. The story teaches us to help each other when others need our help. The story also teaches us to be faithful and obedient. For example, through Pinocchio, we learn the value of obeying our elders who know more than we do. We also learn that we should take our medicine when we are told to because it is for our own good (Huck, 2001). The writer has used certain literary elements such as the historical theme that can be identified as the story begins with the words “very many decades ago”. The writer has also used characterization. For example, there are many different characters that have been used to carry on the theme of the story. Geppetto for example has been used to depict a very angry but ambitious person. The writer has also used conflict to develop the theme. For example, there is conflict between Geppetto and Mastro Cherry. They fight when Geppetto thinks that Mastro Cherry has called him Polendina. Geppetto hates being called Polendina. The writer has also used antagonist and protagonist point of views to develop the story (Anderson, 2006). The work signals that it is based on history through the way the story starts. The story begins with the words “very many decades ago”. This shows that it was based on a very historical setting. It took place a very long time ago. The fact that the story is based on history affects the power of the messages in the sense that historical stories are more powerful in promoting family and social values. The literary elements such as characterization relate with history. For example, Geppetto’s character suits that of an old man. The character of Mastro Cherry as an old carpenter also dates back to historical times when carpentry was a very common occupation (Chapleau, 2004). In conclusion, the story is a creation that communicates very many aspects to the child. It teaches the value of integrity, honesty and strict adherence to principles and virtues. The use of tangible features of creativity ensure that the message has been effectively communicated. This ensures that children pay attention to the messages being communicated by the selected literature. Sometimes it is very difficult to communicate certain messages to children. According to psychologists, it is prudent to communicate in all the ways that they can best understand. This is by reducing oneself to their level in all the possible ways. This will ensure that information created for children is all encompassing. This will encourage them to look into the literature and understand the message being communicated (Hunt, 1996). Reality compliments the thoughts, paintings and the illustrations that accompany the message being passed. Children are first attracted to the beauty of any information material. This then leads them to read the information that it contains. This means that reality is very essential in children communication. The story of Pinocchio is a true depiction that it is necessary to employ reality in children literature (Russell, 2009). References Anderson, N. (2006). Elementary Children's Literature. Boston: Pearson Education. Chapleau, S. (2004). New Voices in Children's Literature Criticism. Lichfield: Pied Piper Publishing. Huck, C. (2001). Children's Literature in the Elementary School. 7th ed. New York: McGraw- Hill. Hunt, P. (1996). International Companion Encyclopedia of Children's Literature. London: Routledge. Lesnik-Oberstein, K. (2004). Children's Literature: New Approaches. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Russell, D. L. (2009). Literature for children: The history of children's literature. Boston: Pearson Press. Read More