Comparing Pullman's Ideas And Themes

1552 Words7 Pages

“There are some themes, some subjects, too large for adult fiction; they can only be dealt with adequately in a children’s book. The reason for that is that in adult literary fiction, stories are there on sufferance. Other things are felt to be more important: technique, style, literary knowingness. The present-day would-be George Eliots take up their stories as if with a pair of tongs. They’re embarrassed by them. If they could write novels without stories in them, they would. Sometimes they do. We need stories so much that we’re even willing to read bad books to get them, if the good books won’t supply them. We all need stories, but children are more frank about it.” A quote from Phillip Pullman's accepting the Carnegie Medal from the Library …show more content…

Sticking to his believes and trying to show and prove his views of children literature and being one of the most controversial writers he lives up to his name by such …show more content…

Not everyone was disagreeing with such ideas to be in a child's book some were actually agreeing with it and seeing it as "an exploration of spirituality and a critique of the abuse of power" as the Archbishop of Canterbury stated. It is thought that for a child reading such stories it opens up his eyes and mind to be in control and in charge of his own decisions and for him to choose what to belief in. The story is there for everyone to take what he see is best for him as the children will be amused by the clever protagonist that can win over adults by her skills and enjoy the fantasies of magic and witches and being amazed by talking animals such as Iorek the bear warrior and help them to overcome their fears. And adults interested in implicit themes such as religion vs science themes and references to old bibles stories will also find what entertain them in story. If that is the case then Pullman proves that a child book can be a higher standard book than an adult one. Northern Light is a brilliant story which not only crosses over between