Juvenilia ✔/ a Nonfiction Undergraduate University Collection

Mature Mythological Depictions in Children's Literature

ENGLISH 3709

Children's Literature

December 2nd, 2021

Mature Mythological Depictions in Children's Literature

Children's literature is a genre of novel that is typically read by children and adults alike. As such, the content has to be appropriate for the children—or at least go over the heads of children—and, in addition, must also be engaging enough for the adult presumably reading it too. 

The depiction of the 'child hero' is unlike what real children would be akin to; instead, it's almost as though the body is a child and the mind and heart is mature beyond their years, like an adult wearing a child's body. 

A prominent theme of children's literature draws on fairy tales and classical mythology. Due to the mythological nature employed, there are some very adult-like themes communicated through the stories, particularly given the characters draw off of symbolism and characteristics of ancient myths and deities—none of which were children. 

Beyond this, there is a deviation in the depiction of gender portrayal, where boys are based off of nature gods above ground, deities such as Pan, The Green Man, Somnus, and Dionysus such as Peter Pan in Peter Pan in Kensington / Peter Pan and Wendy by J. M. Barrie and Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. 

Meanwhile, the girls, such as Alice from Alice in Wonderland / Through the Looking Glass and Irene from The Princess and the Goblin are based off of underground deities and figures from Greek mythology such as Persephone and Ariadne.

In "The Resurrection of Pan," Paul Christensen asserts that the rediscovery of paganism is as a result of the shortcomings of duality in Christianity, and that polytheism was better able to explore our natures as the complex thing it is (506). 

In fiction, mythology is frequently used as symbolism. More specifically, Greek mythology (or it's Roman equivalent) is often employed simply as a direct result of our way of life being so innately connected to the past as explored by Leone Garvey in "Children's Literature—Old" (479). 

While we don't worship these Pagan deities anymore, many modern beliefs stem from Greek and Roman ideals – even to the point of modern justice. Therefore, it makes a certain amount of sense to teach our children through these myths since the gods and goddesses are ideas and concepts personified.

"If twentieth century literature has a central theme, it may well be the rediscovery of polytheism, magic, the animacy of nature, all those structures of thought and belief that belong under the general, and tainted, name of paganism. (Christensen, 506)

Children's Literature is a method of exploring the world, unencumbered by logic and rigidity. As such, children's literature is truly the perfect vessel to utilize mythology: if done correctly. 

Leone Garvey explores this topic – about the appeal of the fantastical to children. Many fairy tales are rooted from mythology, and many contain very dark themes. The original purpose of this was likely to deter children from danger, conveying through stories that not everyone will have their best interests at heart. This seems a useful lesson. 

Much of mythology is adult in nature, particularly with certain gods such as Pan and Dionysus. What is riveting about mythology is its ability to conjure up dynamic ideas just through a single image. Due to this, however, one must be mindful of the imagery being conveyed in Children's literature even subliminally. 

The journey of the girl hero differs greatly from the boy hero, and put simply, the girls typically have a mental journey while the boys have a physical one. By and by, both employ symbolism through setting, but where the stories are character driven for the boys, it is plot driven for the girls.