The Purpose of Fantasy in Children’s Literature

According to the Online Cambridge Dictionary, the word fantasy means a pleasant situation that you enjoy thinking about but is unlikely to happen, or the activity of imagining things like this. In the context of literature, fantasy has been a popular genre since the 19th century (PROOF) which describes situations that are very different from real life, usually involving magic of mythical beings. The moment we hear about this genre, there are already flashbacks from our childhood playing at the back of our minds. That is because fantasy is something inseparable during our childhood as most of us have grew up reading and listening to all sorts stories involving unusual characters such as mermaids, monsters, wizards, dragons and the list goes on. Parents may have also introduced characters like Santa Clauses and Tooth Fairies just to see the little innocent souls smile in joy and some may have even spoken about the monsters under the bed so that the stubborn ones go to bed on time. As much as we had wallowed in fantasy during our childhood, it all stayed back in that particular phase of life. As we grew older, we tend to grow out of these believes although some of us may secretly wish they were true. Now, the real question here is if fantasy was just mere mental image which does not exist in the real world, what is the purpose of it being added to the children’s literature?

According to Beth Webb, a British children’s author, fantasy in children’s literature helps to stimulate imagination of the young readers. Imagination is actually a psychological process which will eventually turn out to be a crucial adult coping mechanism as it helps the little ones fill the gaps between knowledge, reality and experience. For an example, when we were a young, a creaking floor at night would be frightening. Instantly, our curiosity increases and questions such as “What could be that noise?” or “Who is making that noise?” fills the little mind. As a naive little child who has no knowledge on central heating pipes swelling, we tend to engage with make-believe to bridge the gap between experience and knowledge. Hence, all we could do at that age was to simply imagine and fantasise that there is a serial killer or a thief, or even a monster under the bed. However, as we grow up, we eventually learn about the effect of heat on pipes and probably prefer the monster theory. Fear, within a safe context, brings joy.

Another opinion about the importance of children’s imagination is from, Dr. Jillian Roberts a child author and a Child and Adolescent Psychologist based in Canada. She strongly believes that imagination is a vital component in the development of a child’s mind because it drives the force to creativity and critical thinking. I too believe so. That is because when children develop their imagination that is when they are able to learn how to think out of the box and encounter challenges from various dimensions. In fact, I could relate this with one of my favourite read during my younger days, Bridge of Terabithia by Katherine Patersone which showcases primarily on children’s imagination and how powerful it is. The two main characters in this story are Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke. Both of them swig over a creek and build their imaginary world called Terabithia. It becomes their sanctuary from bullies, pressures and plain old simple everyday life. They imagine they are monarchs, they are powerful, and are able to make it through anything. Only when they had put themselves in that position through their wild imagination they could get the taste of being confident. The confidence in them slowly begun to up thrust in real life too and they begin to critically think of ways to handle challenging situations without fear. I could also relate this to what has been said by the renowned children’s author, Joanne Rowling or better known as JK Rowling during her 2008 graduation speech at Harvard. According to her she values imagination because:“It is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathise with humans who experience we have shared. ”

Besides that, if noticed, fantasising has not only helped Jess and Leslie to look at real life situations in different perspectives and think critically but it has also led them to solve problems own their own. When children are exposed to fantasy books, they too tend to use and develop their own imagination spontaneously. They become aware of the fact that there is more than one way to solve a problem. This will become an essential skill as they time passes. In fact, when I was in primary school, I always faced difficulties with problem solving questions in Mathematics. The only way I could help myself is true imagination. For an example, if the sum says subtract six from twelve. I use to imagine that I have subtracted two in my mind first as I only have ten fingers. Then, continue subtracting four using my fingers to get the right answer. Also, according to the observation of Maria Nikolajeva, the Head of Children’s Literature Studies at the University of Cambridge, fantasy for children can explore important values and psychological issues in an unthreatening way because it deals with worlds that are slightly detached from the real one.

In a sense, this observation builds on Bruno Bettelheim’s analysis, ‘The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales’, in which he suggests that the inner value of fantasy rests in the fact that they allow the fledgling child to explore his or her potentially terrifying desires and emotions at a safe distance from any context in which their potentially destructive power is made obvious. Hansel and Gretel by Jacob Grimm for instance is not simply a story about a witch in a cottage made of sweets but it is a story about greed and the importance of controlling yourself and recognising the needs of others. Similarly, the Harry Potter series is not just a story about learning to be a wizard but it is a story about learning to deal with evil embedded in you, about confronting death and about the importance of love as well as friendship. In my opinion, I also feel that fantasy in children’s literature helps to simplify complex subjects such as social issues, family issues, values or prejudice of various kinds. That is because it helps to portray these issues in the most engaging and creative way just to match the thinking level of a child as it could be a little difficult and boring if told in a plain manner. Bringing these issues in children’s literature also facilitates parents to begin their conversation regarding these matters with their children as they have already been exposed to them. In fact, they even have quite an understanding about it too. Lion King is a perfect example of this matter. It narrates everything from youthful innocence to unforeseen loss, lies and betrayal, and all things we face in life. I still remember reading this book repeatedly as a 6 year old kid and was ever ready in front of the television to watch these little cute lion portray all kind of emotions on screen, even till today although it is one of the most difficult Disney flicks to sit through because of that unbearably tragic scene which we all seem to be aware of. However, it certainly prepared 6-year-old me for the early loss of a parent, personal setbacks and trying to become the best possible version of myself.

Another children’s literature book which touched on an important social issue such as drugging and rape is Maleficent by Elizabeth Rudnick. Imagine waking up in the morning with your face down in the dirt after being drugged by someone whom you actually trusted. You’re aching both mentally and physically. There is a change in the way you look and also there is a complete difference beyond the physicality of it, your power was stolen from you. All you want to do is hide in a shell of darknesss with completely no human contact. It may sound like a story of a rape victim but this is what was portrayed in Maleficient. I love how the writer has inserted such a strong message in the most creative way using unique characters and a magical setting.

Lastly, I think fantasy is simply added into children’s literature to make reading more fun for them. Some kids are just bored of the idea of reading and seem to look at it like a chore. Even if they do some reading it is only done in school because they do not really have a choice. However, when kids discover all of the interesting and exciting adventures found in fantasy novels, they tend to view reading as an enjoyable and recreational activity they can participate in both in and out of the classroom. When kids become engrossed in a world of intrigue found within the pages of fiction stories, they improve their reading comprehension in general. This is especially true if they get to choose their own book or character series they enjoy. Reading comprehension is one of the two core subjects and something that can be improved through practice.