Children’s Literature Sara Zadrozny

The author Kenneth Grahame was well connected to the London literary world. Aspects of Wind in the Willows are reminiscent of books by Jerome. K. Jerome, C.S. Lewis and Thomas Hardy. The argument that the book is for children centres on the letters sent to Alistair Grahame. In these, he recounts the adventures of ‘Mr Toad’.

Anthropomorphism Having looked at A.A. Milne’s work on animals as ‘people/toys’, it is clear that anthropomorphism is used for an effect in books for children. The effect is to point out dimensions of the ‘animals’ lives that need improving through their companionship. The absence of ‘meaningful’ female characters has been commented on by critics like Peter Hunt (xxx, 2010).

Two books? Other critics have explored the chapters of the book to argues that the first half explores nature and the Mole journey to be with friends. The second half is dominated by Toad’s adventures. Arguably, the second half is ‘for’ children, although Chapters like ‘The Pipers at the Gates of Dawn’ and ‘Wayfarers All’ are cut from some children's editions.

Ideas of Childhood The text also suggests some of the problems associated with discussion of childhood. These are exemplified by the theorists John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. They argued that childhood was a period that required firm control (Locke) or that childhood was a period of innocence (Rousseau). These may be aligned with Toad (out of control) or Mole (happy in his innocent experience of nature).

Further reading Carpenter, H. (1985). Secret Gardens. London: Allen & Unwin Grahame, K. (2010). (ed. Hunt, P.) The Wind in the Willows. Oxford: OUP