Young Readers and Their Relations with Nature in The Story

Phattarapol Thongcharoensub

 "Secondly “Humans” to be defending

More than just wintry Smile and Glare

Wondering whether unholy Blow shall silence mild Wind

Or is it too Easy to care?

Like King Neptune taming his Horse

Then, its Fate shall face the Loss"


An Old Classic Anthropomorphism

   Talking about children’s relations with characters in the literary work, the sagacious and stylistic authors oftentimes engage children with animal characters so as to psychologically and philosophically conclude some last moral/life lesson(s) of the stories. This refers to the antiquated literary technique of anthropomorphism, talking and human-behaving-like animals.

Source: Picture, edited from “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” e-book

        Soni (2024) stresses restlessly on his findings that anthropomorphism is usually used in the form of a psychological and emotional metaphor, connecting with children, who potentially represent themselves as those animal protagonists. Unsurprisingly, “The tale of Peter Rabbit”, targeted for children, also adopts this anthropomorphism device to relate them with Peter and other animal characters:

“NOW run along, and don’t get into mischief. I am going out.” Then old Mrs. Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella, and went through the wood to the baker’s. She bought a loaf of brown bread and five currant buns (Potter, 2006, p. 8).

      This excerpt demonstrates superlatively palpably the implication of anthropomorphism technique through the role of Mrs. Rabbit. Mrs. Rabbit is depicted to be able to speak, teach, and berate her bunnies like an actual mother in the real world. The writer would like to involve the role of Mrs. Rabbit with mother because children may feel it relatable when they metaphorically represent themselves as Peter, and they will also mirror their mother at home to be Mrs. Rabbit automatically.

Source: Picture, edited from “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” e-book

        Through posthumans’ stances, this technique is implicitly served in the children’s literature to engage themselves with nature of animals, behaving and talking like them. The young reader will nurture and adapt it to their real life; they learn to respect and live with nature.


Further Reading:

Potter, B. (2006). The tale of Peter Rabbit (Based on the original and authorized edition). Frederick Warne & Co.

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