Allegory In Children

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An allegory is a story in which things and people represent something entirely other-perhaps an idea or philosophy. The purpose of an allegory is to reveal a hidden meaning, moral or lesson. Allegories are often used in religions to show, rather than tell, what is right from what is wrong. However, animal allegories are very common among children’s books. Animals are often incorporated in stories to encompass a variety of ideas and subject matters that might otherwise confuse or children. From an early age, children demonstrate their ability to connect to animals, most commonly dogs. Using animals, specifically dogs, allows the child reader to connect personal issues in a practical real world application. Animals are often presented anthropomorphically …show more content…
Lady and the Tramp is filled with exciting adventures of Lady, a lovingly pampered cocker spaniel, and Tramp, a roguish mutt from across the tracks. Lady’s owners lavish attention on her until a new baby arrives that takes all their attention. Ignoring Lady’s needs, they go away on a trip, leaving her and the baby with a callous aunt and her two Siamese cats that wreak havoc. Lady, wrongly accused of the mischievous cats’ pranks, ends up in the backyard doghouse and eventually fitted for a muzzle. Fearful, Lady runs away and straight into a street-wise mutt named Tramp, who shows her how good he has it being free from owners. Unfortunately, even though he protects Lady from a vicious dog attack, Tramp can’t protect her from the dog catcher. Lady spends time in the pound learning some of Tramp’s secrets from his other wayward, albeit intimate, friends. Hurt and jealous, Lady returns home and is once again exiled to the doghouse. In just the beginning of the book, the several fears appear evident through the character of Lady. In the Lady and the Tramp, the home as a dangerous place is exemplified. As stated by Hintz and Tribunella, “The idea of the home as a dangerous place mirrors data concerning actual child victims of violence” (198). Lady’s home environment clearly exemplifies neglect which is a common fear amongst children, especially those who are about to become an older …show more content…
The use of literature to help children cope with certain fears and situations is highly stressed. As Tu states, “Literature can be used as an effective tool to help children deal with emotional and social problems” (1999). Literature allows children to open up and express their fears and feelings which allows adults to understand how to tackle the situation. In another article Fighting Children’s Fears, Fast by Sadie F. Dingfelder, what I found interesting was that there are vast majority of children who are afraid of animals, specifically dogs. I was surprised that not every child would turn to animals in literature as a safety and coping mechanism. After reading this article, I have concluded that although the use of animals through literature is emphasized as a top treatment of fears, it could actually be an ineffective
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