From Childhood to Adulthood in Fantasy Fictions. Essay

Many 20th century fantasies for children explore the journey from childhood to adulthood in metaphoric terms. A Discussion Fantasy is literature for teenagers Brian Aldiss (quoted in Alternate Worlds in Fantasy Fiction, 2001) In Alternate Worlds in Fantasy Fiction, Peter Hunt questions the credibility of fantasy fiction within the literary world, and suggests it is a marginalized literary form. Although opinions vary on the subject, many are of the consensus that fantasy is formulaic, childish and escapist, without giving credit to its invaluable scope as a device to covertly reach adolescents. (Hunt: 2) The above quote from Brian Aldiss may well have been derogatory in intent, yet it should also be†¦show more content†¦( The Mabinogion: 111) When her love for him is not returned, she is changed into an owl for all eternity: I will not kill you, but I will do what is worse: I will let you go in the form of a bird. Because of the shame you have bought on Leu Skillful Hand, you shall never again show your face to the light of day...( The Mabinogion:116) To this day, Blodeuwedd means `owl in Welsh, and it is from here that Garners unusual `owls or `flowers choice is derived, which he instead uses as a metaphorical lesson of the tribulations of adolescence. This owls/flowers ideal that permeates the story can be viewed as a metaphor for the choices one faces when growing up. The choice of the violent, painful and turbulent adolescence of `owls - one where the youngster is at battle with the emergence of his new feelings, experiences and self. Or the `flowers path - to accept, be forgiving to oneself and to others, and to embrace the physical and psychological changes that are occurring around them. Here Garner leads adolescents to the understanding that the choice is always in their hands, and that even when something seems set in stone, there are always other options - you need only be receptive to them. Gwyns struggle to forgive and accept during his journey is the key obstacle that prevents him from breaking the never-ending owl cycle. He, as the most troubled teen, immediately sees owls and is ultimately theShow MoreRelatedAraby, By James Joyce1013 Words   |  5 Pages James Joyce’s short fiction, â€Å"Araby†, speaks of the loss of innocence when one enters adulthood. The narrator of â€Å"Araby† reflects back to his childhood and the defining moment when he reached clarity on the world he stood before. The young boy, living in a world lifeless and religious influence, becomes consumed with the lust of a neighbouring girl. The girl, Mangan, is symbolically the narrator’s childhood obsession with growing up. 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