The Creative Child In The Book Of Lost Things
The Creative Child
. . . he became a writer and he wrote a book. He called it The Book of Lost Things, and the book that you are holding is the book that he wrote (Connolly 335).
These are the concluding words of John Connolly’s fantasy fiction The Book of Lost Things, revealing that the narrator have been the protagonist all along. A writing child is a common phenomenon in fantasy fiction around the world as well, sometimes overlapping with the reading child; however, the purpose of writing by a child is often regarded as a mere tool for the sake of chronicling the adventures of protagonists, not as his or her ability to engage with the story in children’s fiction. Ende and Funke’s stories treat creative writing as a powerful, influential …show more content…
By his creative act of naming the ill Childlike Empress, our protagonist who at first appears to be a cowardly fool saves the fantastical world and is rewarded by his transformation into a handsome Oriental prince. Nevertheless, the book reveals that Bastian is a failed trickster and a Proppian false hero. He appeared to have transcended the author’s authority by becoming a citizen of Fantastica and creating new creatures and premise; his instantly-granted omniscience amplifies his pride and abuse of his authority as the creator of the fantastical universe. The more he attempts to be omniscient and powerful, the less his identity of a human being remains. Instead of becoming a trickster who subverts the authority and messenger between two worlds, Bastian becomes an irresolute, ambitious authority. He leaves behind in Fantastica the unfinished stories for his friends Atreyu and Falkor to complete. His mission as a trickster failed; however, he redeems his status by returning to his own world with the Water of Life and stories to inspire his father, Mr. Coreander, and perhaps many more. Bastian demonstrates the rise and fall of a
. . . he became a writer and he wrote a book. He called it The Book of Lost Things, and the book that you are holding is the book that he wrote (Connolly 335).
These are the concluding words of John Connolly’s fantasy fiction The Book of Lost Things, revealing that the narrator have been the protagonist all along. A writing child is a common phenomenon in fantasy fiction around the world as well, sometimes overlapping with the reading child; however, the purpose of writing by a child is often regarded as a mere tool for the sake of chronicling the adventures of protagonists, not as his or her ability to engage with the story in children’s fiction. Ende and Funke’s stories treat creative writing as a powerful, influential …show more content…
By his creative act of naming the ill Childlike Empress, our protagonist who at first appears to be a cowardly fool saves the fantastical world and is rewarded by his transformation into a handsome Oriental prince. Nevertheless, the book reveals that Bastian is a failed trickster and a Proppian false hero. He appeared to have transcended the author’s authority by becoming a citizen of Fantastica and creating new creatures and premise; his instantly-granted omniscience amplifies his pride and abuse of his authority as the creator of the fantastical universe. The more he attempts to be omniscient and powerful, the less his identity of a human being remains. Instead of becoming a trickster who subverts the authority and messenger between two worlds, Bastian becomes an irresolute, ambitious authority. He leaves behind in Fantastica the unfinished stories for his friends Atreyu and Falkor to complete. His mission as a trickster failed; however, he redeems his status by returning to his own world with the Water of Life and stories to inspire his father, Mr. Coreander, and perhaps many more. Bastian demonstrates the rise and fall of a