The Representation of Childhood in Roald Dahl s The Big Friendly Giant

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36582/jotell.v3i10.10541

Keywords:

Children Literature, Childhood, Character Analysis, Psychosocial Development

Abstract

This study explores the representation of childhood in Roald Dahl s The Big Friendly Giant through the lens of Erik Erikson s psychosocial development nbsp; nbsp;theory with a nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; nbsp;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 < p>

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Published

2025-04-27

How to Cite

The Representation of Childhood in Roald Dahl s The Big Friendly Giant. (2025). JoTELL : Journal of Teaching English, Linguistics, and Literature, 3(10), 1277 1294. https://doi.org/10.36582/jotell.v3i10.10541

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