ANIMALS AS MORAL AND NATURAL SYMBOLS IN MICHAEL MORPURGO’S FICTION
Keywords:
Michael Morpurgo, animal imagery, moral values, ecological symbolism, children’s literatureAbstract
Michael Morpurgo’s fiction holds an important place in contemporary children’s literature because of its strong humanistic message and frequent use of animal imagery. In his works, animals are not only part of the storyline but also meaningful symbols that express moral values and ecological ideas. They often represent qualities such as kindness, loyalty, responsibility, and respect for life. This article examines how animal characters in Morpurgo’s fiction function as moral and ecological symbols and how they help readers understand ethical behavior and the relationship between humans and nature. By analyzing selected novels, the study shows that animal imagery plays a key role in developing empathy and environmental awareness among young readers. As a result, Morpurgo’s use of animals can be seen as an effective artistic and educational tool in modern children’s literature.
Downloads
References
Morpurgo, M. (1982). War Horse. London: Kaye & Ward.
Morpurgo, M. (1993). Kensuke’s Kingdom. London: Walker Books.
Morpurgo, M. (2006). The Butterfly Lion. London: HarperCollins.
Morpurgo, M. (1985). The White Horse of Zennor. London: HarperCollins.
Morpurgo, M. (1991). Private Peaceful. London: Walker Books.
Garrard, G. (2012). Ecocriticism (2nd ed.). London: Routledge.
Buell, L. (2005). The Future of Environmental Criticism: Environmental Crisis and Literary Imagination. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Nodelman, P. (2008). The Hidden Adult: Defining Children’s Literature. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Stephens, J. (1992). Language and Ideology in Children’s Fiction. London: Longman.
Zipes, J. (2002). Sticks and Stones: The Troublesome Success of Children’s Literature from Slovenly Peter to Harry Potter. New York: Routledge.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All content published in the Journal of Applied Science and Social Science (JASSS) is protected by copyright. Authors retain the copyright to their work, and grant JASSS the right to publish the work under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). This license allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work, even commercially, as long as they credit the author(s) for the original creation.
