THE REPRESENTATION OF CHILDHOOD IN ROALD DAHL’S THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36582/jotell.v3i10.10541Keywords:
Children Literature, Childhood, Character Analysis, Psychosocial DevelopmentAbstract
This study explores the representation of childhood in Roald Dahl's "The Big Friendly Giant" through the lens of Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory, with a particular focus on the character of Sophie, an orphan who faces significant challenges. The research aims to analyze how Sophie's journey reflects key developmental stages, including trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame and doubt, initiative vs. guilt, and industry vs. inferiority. Through her evolving relationship with the BFG and her proactive role in confronting the giants, Sophie transitions from a fearful, passive child to a confident, assertive individual. This transformation illustrates a positive representation of childhood, emphasizing the importance of nurturing environments and supportive relationships in child development. The findings highlight the critical role of literature in shaping societal perceptions of childhood and suggest that narratives like Dahl's can foster resilience and self-assurance in children. This study also underscores how Sophie's resilience embodies hope, courage, and adaptability, which are vital for healthy psychosocial development.
References
Abrams, M.H. & Harpham, G. (2014). A Glossary of literary terms. Cengage learning.
Astor, D. (2013, July 2). Orphans in Literature. Huffington Post. Retrieved September 5, 2023, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/orphans-in-literature_b_3535503.
Bailey, A. (PT, DPT, CHT). (2023, September 22). Understanding Psychosocial Development. Verywell Health. Retrieved October 20, 2023, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/psychosocial-development-5220563.
Bogdan, C.R. and Biklen S.K. Qualitative Research for Education 2nd ed. Boston: Allyn and bacon, Inc. 1992.
Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and Loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. New York: Basic Books.
Dahl, R. (1998). The BFG (Q. Blake, Illus.). Puffin Books. (Original work published 1982)
Engel, S. (1999). Looking Backward: Representations of Childhood in Literary Work. Journal of Aesthetic Education, 33(1), 50–55.
Erikson, E. H. (1950). Childhood and Society. W. W. Norton & Company.
Forster, E. M. (1927). Aspects of the Novel. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.
Grenby, M. O. (2014). Children’s literature. Edinburgh University Press.
Griffith, K. (2011). Writing Essay About Literature: A Guide and Style Sheet (8th ed.). Boston, Mass.: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Hintz, C., & Tribunella, E. L. (2019). Reading children's literature: A critical introduction (2nd ed.). Peterborough, Ontario.
Hunt, P. (1994). An introduction to children's literature. Oxford University Press.
Keles, K., Wuntu, C. N., & Lolowang, I. (2022). Potret keluarga dalam novel Nicholas Sparks Lagu Terakhir. JoTELL: Jurnal Pengajaran Bahasa Inggris, Linguistik, dan Sastra, 1(3), 360-374.
Kimball, M. A. (1999). From folktales to fiction: Orphan characters in children's literature. Library Trends.
Montessori, M. (1966). The Secret of Childhood. Orient Longman.
Nodelman, P., & Reimer, M. (2003). The pleasures of children’s literature (3rd ed.). Allyn & Bacon.
Nurgiyantoro, B. (2015). Teori Pengkajian Fiksi. Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press.
Permatasari, A. N. (2017). Representasi Anak pada Film Perang (Analisis Semiotika pada Film Life is Beautiful dan The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas). Golden Age: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 1.
Rato R, D. L. M., Lukmantoro, T., & Hasfi, N. (2013). Representasi Sosok Anak-Anak Pedalaman Papua dalam Film Denias, Senandung di Atas Awan. Retrieved September 12, 2023 from https://ejournal3.undip.ac.id/index.php/interaksi-online/article/view/2961.
Roberts, Edgar. V, 1983. Writing Themes about Literature. New Jersey: Pretince Hall, Inc.
Sabudu, D. (2020). The Reflection of Loyalty in Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man And The Sea. Jurnal Penelitian Humaniora, 21(1), 24-32.
Umboh, S. I., Mamentu, A. C., & Posumah, J. (2023). Introvert Personality in Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl. JoTELL: Journal of Teaching English, Linguistics, and Literature, 2(4), 556-567.
VandenBos, G. R. (ed.). (2007). APA Dictionary of Psychology. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 JoTELL : Journal of Teaching English, Linguistics, and Literature
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
