Adults and Kiddie Lit

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Secret Garden" are children's books that bring out the child in the adult by invoking a renewed desire to experience a childhood state of unbridled curiosity, optimism, courage, and capacity for love. The author points out that Baum and Burnett use the technique of "fantastic composition", where elements of daily life are connected intimately with the heart of the magic itself. The paper relates that, unlike Baum, Burnett, who does not resort to the use of any other worldly powers or creatures in "The Secret Garden", nevertheless manages to weave a form of magic quite uniquely her own.

From the Paper:

"Initially, Burnett uses the neglected and locked up garden to mirror the lonely, unloved lives of Mary and Colin: " She wants to see the garden because it has been shut up for ten years, as she herself as been". The process of discovery and exploration of the garden metaphor for Mary's resumed growth and development. That process of growth and development into happy, confident, fulfilled beings is, however, not an easy one. Like Dorothy, Mary and Colin, too, soon discover that the answers to their problems lie within themselves and not in the external world."

More papers on Adults and Kiddie Lit:

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• Analytical Essay # 130473 : "Adults and Higher Education"
• Persuasive Essay # 105312 : "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Mystagogy"

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