MATURATION AND LOSING CHILDLIKE NATURE IN THE NOVELS ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND (1865) AND PETER PAN (1911)

Abstract

MATURATION AND LOSING CHILDLIKE NATURE IN THE NOVELS ALICE’S            ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND (1865) AND PETER PAN (1911)

                                     Sarah Kiersten Luntungan1

                                         Stephani J. Sigarlaki2

                                         Theresia M.C. Lasut3

                                                 ABSTRACT

     Maturation and losing childlike nature are presented within children’s literature, specifically in the novels Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Peter Pan. This study as two objectives: (1) to identify and describe the issue of maturation and losing childlike nature depicted through the protagonists from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Peter Pan; (2) to analyse and compare the issue of maturation and losing childlike nature in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Peter Pan. This research will tackle the issue of maturation and losing childlike nature by using an extrinsic and intrinsic approach. The utilisation of psychological developmental theories by Miller (2011) discusses the reasoning behind certain actions, thoughts and emotions conveyed in the respective novels whilst the application of comparative literary theories by Tӧtӧsy de Zepetnek (1998) will focus on the distinctive and similar comparisons made between the two novels. The method used for this study is the qualitative descriptive method, where the implementation of quotes from the respective novels are used to support written statements. This study’s results state that Alice Liddell displays a better reaction towards the issue of maturing and losing her childlike nature at the end of her story. Wendy Darling, however, has already been described to have accepted her fate since the beginning, yet she slightly yearns to travel back to Neverland at the end of the story. Both Carroll and Barrie use the conventions of fantasy elements and their settings distinctly yet are applied to reach the same aim.

Keywords: Maturation, Losing Childlike Nature, Alice, Wendy, Wonderland, Neverland

1 Student

2 Material Supervisor

3 Technical Supervisor