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INTERNATIONAL DEGREE PROGRAMME

A. STUDENT/S TO COMPLETE
Module Name: Children Literature

Module Code:

Student Name: Rubatarshne d/o Vasu

Komathy d/o Lingayah

Student ID Number: PLPPIP2011/071/KIC

PLPPIP2011/024/KIC

Lecturer Name: DatinSuzelina

Tutor Group: A2

Assignment No./Name: Assignment 3

Due Date: 24 April 2014

Date Submitted: 24 April 2014

Word Count:

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L. KOMATHY, V. RUBATARSHNE
CHILDREN LITERATURE ASSIGNMENT 3Page 1

Fantasy is one of the most interesting genres in literary works. This is because
the characteristics of fantasy which involves imagination as a element to develop the
plot of the story. The imaginary world, instruments and characters creates interesting
story line which will engage the readers to continue reading the story. This paper will
analyse three sub-genres of fantasy mainly high fantasy, dark fantasy and animal
fantasy. The titles of books chosen are The Chronicles of Narnia, The Mortal
Instruments: City of Bones and Charlotte Web. This paper will analyze further on the
novels based on two focusing question which are: What are the literary devices
included in the three fantasy novels especially in terms of the use of metaphors,
personification and symbolism? and Compare and contrast the similarities and
differences in the genre of fantasy based on three novels analyzed.
The fantasy genre has its own significance in literature especially in literary works
and film industries which are imagination, societal values and sense of wonder. Firstly,
imagination is a key element and plays an important role in this genre. This is because;
make-believe characteristics in fantasy novels are usually expressed through imaginary
settings, instruments and characters. For example, Land of Narnia in Chronicles of
Narnia, Downworld in City Of Bones and the animal world in Charlottes Web represents
an imaginary settings created by the author to integrate the element of imagination in
the novels. Secondly, the societal values are also added in the three novels which
focus on good versus bad. For instance, Aslan from the Chronicles of Narnia battles
with the Witch, and Clary the shadowhunter in City of Bones defend human (mundane)
world by battling with demons shows the good and bad characters in the novels.
Through this the readers develop understanding of characteristics and effects of
possessing good and evil character which they can apply in their lives. Thirdly, there is
strong use of sense of wonders in the novels. Human despite children or adults has
sense of wonder and expect some mystery, miracles or magical things to happen in
some point of our lives. The use of magical characters and weapons which could give
supernatural power serves as evidence in the use sense of wonders fulfills the need of
readers.
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The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis is a wonderful book. This is because this
story is a high fantasy novel where enables a reader to go to an imaginary world. The
story begins when there are four young adventurers playing hide-and-seek in the
country home and stumble upon an enchanted wardrobe that will take them places they
never dreamed. Stepping through the wardrobe door, they are whisked into the
spectacular universe known as Narnia. Narnia is a fairy-tale realm of magical
proportions where woodland animals talk and mythological creatures roam the hills. But
Narnia has fallen under the icy spell of a mad sorceress, cursed to suffer through a
winter that never ends by the White Witch Jadis. Hence, mystical lion Aslan, and the
four Pevensie children will discover their own strength and lead Narnia into a
spectacular battle to be free of the Witch's glacial enslavement forever.
The first book of The Mortal Instrument series, which is City of Bones written by
Cassandra Clare is categorized as dark fantasy. This book narrates about the life of a
fifteen year old teenage girl named Clary, the main character in the book. Clary lives in
New York leading a normal life like any other ordinary teenager until she discovers that
in this city that never sleeps (New York), the evil never sleeps too. Clary also realizes
that she inherits the traits of Shadowhunters, a secret group of half angels who battle
with demons and defend the human world from falling into the wrong hands. However,
things got worse when Clarys mother, Jocelyn suddenly vanishes. In an effort to find
her mother Clary joins with Jace, Isabelle, and Alec who are shadowhunters themselves
and with the help of other protagonist characters in the book tries to solve the mystery
of her missing mother. The journey in search of her mother, reveals her to a different
and dangerous world known as the Downworld where vampires, demons, monsters
along with shadowhunters and werewolves lives. Jace, the leading male role acts as a
protector of Clary and always defends her.
The next book is about an animal fantasy novel named Charlotte Web by E.B
White. The story narrates about Fern the main character in this novel that sees Wilbur
the pig as a special animal. As Wilbur moves into a new barn, he begins a second
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CHILDREN LITERATURE ASSIGNMENT 3Page 3

profound friendship with the most unlikely of creatures, a spider named Charlotte and
their bond inspires the animals around them to come together as a family. When the
word gets out that Wilbur's days are numbered, it seems that only a miracle will save his
life. A determined Charlotte who sees miracles in the ordinary spins words into her web
in an effort to convince the farmer that Wilbur is "some pig" and worth saving
There are an abundance of metaphors in these three novels. In the book The
Chronicles of Narnia, the winter sun came out and the snow all around them grew
dazzlingly bright (Lewis 2001, p.27) refers to the use of metaphor. Here, the phrase
sun come out is not appropriately used and sun usually is said as arise. Furthermore,
the word hung in the phrase the sun hung limp in the sky (C.Claire 2007, p.2) from
the book City of Bones represents metaphor. Usually hung is used to refer an object
dangling free with something holding it at the top. For instance, we hung our clothes on
the hook. Another metaphor is smell her mortality, the sweet rot of corruption
(C.Claire 2007, p.2). In this sentence the author uses the sense of smell and taste as
metaphors to explain about mortality and the corruption. Charlotte Web by E.B White
also uses metaphor in his story. The sentence it smelled of the perspiration of tired
horses and the wonderful sweet breath of patient cows (White 1952, p.68) is a
metaphor because sense of taste is used to describe the cows breath. Hence, the are
some similarities that can be found between this story line where the author uses their
senses like taste and smell as well as sun to describe their metaphors to be more
interesting.
Personification is one of the most commonly used and recognized literary devices. It
refers to the practice of attaching human traits and characteristics with inanimate
objects, phenomena and animals. In The Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan portrays human
characteristics. This can be proved when Aslan sacrifices his life to save Edmund from
danger. Aslan is referred to Christ who gave his life to save his mankind. Besides, in the
book The City of Bones, personification in this book is It jumped out at her suddenly,
flashing like a dont walk sign. (C.Claire 2007, p.17) Here, it refers to runes which are
symbols or marks made to give supernatural power to a person. It is awkward that
runes can jumped out, instead of runes appeared. Lastly, in the Charlotte Web the
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CHILDREN LITERATURE ASSIGNMENT 3Page 4

personification can be seen the line said by Wilbur After all, whats a life, anyway?
Were born, we live a little while, we die (White 1952, p.164). The author stresses
that Wilbur as animal has matured and his ability to understand the circle of life is a bit
more present; compared to the beginning. Here, the Wilbur projects the human
qualities. Hence, personification help readers understand, sympathize with, or react
emotionally to non-human characters.
Another literary device which is common in all three novels is symbolism.
Symbolism is expressed through values, characters, use of weapons and instruments.
In Charlottes Web, values such as the concept of love and self-identity illustrate
symbolism. The love shown by both the mother like spider, Charlotte and Wilbur the pig
towards each other is undeniable. For example, the sentence But you have saved me,
Charlotte, and I would gladly give my life for you- I really would (White 1952,
p.68) proves the statement that love is symbolized through the two characters.
Symbolism of character in Chronicles of Narnia is Aslan, the lion. Aslan represents
characteristics of heroism, human being and the god Christ. Heroism can be seen when
Aslan leads the others in the process of defeating of the White Witch Jadis. Moreover,
Aslan symbolizes Christ when he sacrifices his own life to safe Edmund. Aslan also is
described in the book as a talking animal who loves to romp with children and inspires
love, respect, magic and mystery. On the other hand, weapons are used to symbolize
meaning in City of Bones. The runes, stele and the mortal cup are some of the weapons
used in the book. The runes are used to give supernatural power and the stele serves
as a weapon shadowhunters use to make the runes and for protection. In addition, the
Mortal Cup is an instrument used to make half angels (shadowhunters) by drinking from
the cup consisting of the mixture of Angel Raziels blood and a shadowhunter. This
symbolizes magical power. One similar characteristic can be drawn from Chronicles of
Narnia and City of Bones that is the emphasis of Christianity. Aslan represents Christ in
Chronicles of Narnia whereas in City of Bones the Angel Raziel, half angels and the
demons shows the presence of Christianity.
There are also some similarities and differences in these three novels. First of all, magic
in fantasy literature's most basic element. In Chronicles of Narnia, magic is the only one
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of the six motifs to appear in the book where it has the ability of the animals to think and
speak like humans. For example, the Aslan communicates to other four children.
Another similarity is these three books can consist of an imaginary world like Narnia,
Downworld, and Zuckerbans barn. This helps the reader to imagine that they are in a
new world. In addition, the characters that possess good and evil quality shows how
good and evil works out in individuals is also which is also parallel in these books. It is
usually easy to tell who is good and who is bad. An example would be in The Mortal
Instruments City of Bones the shadowhunters who represents good character battle
with evil character which is the demons to defend the world.

Another similarity that can be found is heroism. Heroism is an age-old pattern which
means the backbone of many of today's fantasy stories. This "hero's round" is a circular
journey, ending where it began. Take this for an example, Aslan the king of the forest
leads the four young children to the right path to save Narnia from the Witch. Moreover,
the type of special character also similar in this fantasy genre. These often come from
our legendary or folk literature past such as fairies, pixies, giants, wicked witches,
ogres, vampires, wizards, dwarves, elves, and so on. Lastly, fantastic objects parallel to
these fantasy novels. Characters are often employ magical props in accomplishing their
heroic or evil deeds like magic cloaks, swords, staffs, cauldrons, and mirrors. For
example, Jace and Isabelle in the The Mortal Instruments the City of Bones uses
magical propes like runes, stele and mortal cup to have supernatural powers and defeat
the demons.
Although these books are of the same genre, however there are some
differences mainly the characters, settings and the focus of the story. The first difference
is animals play the role of characters in the Charlottes Web, meanwhile in City of
Bones, Angels, the magical creature and Demons are the characters. However, in The
Chronicles of Narnia both the magical creature and animal is present. For instance, the
White Witch Jadis is a magical creature and Aslan who is a Lion signifies animal. In
addition the setting used in each novel differs even though there are imaginary world in
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each story. Firstly, land of Narnia is an icy cold place covered by snow. Besides that, the
downworld in the City of Bones describes a place where the shadowhunters, vampires,
werewolves and demons live but they have their own territory. For the Charlottes Web,
Novel the story is set in the Zuckerbarns barn, a place animal are reared by
Zuckerbarn, the farmer.
These stories can be related to real life situation in aspects of values, sense of
power and imagination. Values that can be instilled are loyalty and teamwork. Charlotte
and Wilbur are stay true in their friendship signifying loyalty. The City of Bones focuses
on teamwork because the protagonist characters work together to defeat the demons
and bring Clarys mother back. Besides that sense of power is used in the novel City of
Bones and Chronicles of Narnia through the use of weapon such as stele in city of
bones and sword used by the Witch in Narnia as an instrument to defend them. When
compared to real life, human possess power but not through weapon but in terms of
confidence, willpower and braveness as strength to overcome challenges. Lastly real
life situation can be related to the imaginary world versus the real word. In the imaginary
world there is presence of magic and supernatural power. However, in human world,
magic refers to our own inner self in which values are more emphasized to achieve
success
As a whole, fantasy is a good genre to cultivate good values and develop the
creativity among the readers. All these three books are good because reader will
analyze the characters and get to know the good and bad character. This would
eventually develop critical thinking among reader especially among children and
teenagers when they lean to analyze characters and settings in stories In addition, the
use interesting vocabulary such as Downworld, Narnia, attracts the reader to continue
reading.

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L. KOMATHY, V. RUBATARSHNE
CHILDREN LITERATURE ASSIGNMENT 3Page 8

References
Clare, C. and Rosamilia, M. (2007). City of bones. 1st ed. New York: M.K. McElderry
Books.
Lewis, C. and Baynes, P. (2001). The chronicles of Narnia. 1st ed. New York:
HarperCollinsPublishers.
White, E., Williams, G. and Rosenwald, E. (1952). Charlotte's web. 1st ed. New York:
Harper.

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