The Struggle of Growing Up in Peter Pan and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

This thesis focuses on the theme of growing up in the novels Peter Pan and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. By analyzing this theme and also by comparing the Walt Disney film adaptations to the novels, this thesis will argue that these children’s novels present the reader with contradictory points of view. The theme of growing up which is built into the novels provides the reader with different perspectives. These leave the reader with several questions and uncertainties, which is problematic because it does not fit well with the different functions of children’s literature. Although children’s literature is difficult to define, scholars suggest that it has an entertaining function with educational aspects, which children can use to develop themselves. In the case of Peter Pan and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, this function is neglected in a way; although literature can be ambiguous and raise questions, Peter Pan and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland provide the reader with...Show moreThis thesis focuses on the theme of growing up in the novels Peter Pan and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. By analyzing this theme and also by comparing the Walt Disney film adaptations to the novels, this thesis will argue that these children’s novels present the reader with contradictory points of view. The theme of growing up which is built into the novels provides the reader with different perspectives. These leave the reader with several questions and uncertainties, which is problematic because it does not fit well with the different functions of children’s literature. Although children’s literature is difficult to define, scholars suggest that it has an entertaining function with educational aspects, which children can use to develop themselves. In the case of Peter Pan and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, this function is neglected in a way; although literature can be ambiguous and raise questions, Peter Pan and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland provide the reader with numerous questions and uncertainties regarding the struggle of growing up. That is why these novels can be considered “impossible” within the field of children’s literature.Show less

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The Struggle of Growing Up in Peter Pan and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland