An Analysis of the Educational Value of Children’s Literature in Else Günther’s Sonjas lustige Türkenreise

Abstract

Else Günther is a children’s author who began writing after the World War II, but was almost completely forgotten by the end of the 1970s. In her books, which contain pre-intercultural characteristics, she made efforts to introduce some foreign continents, such as Africa and Asia (Turkey) as well as Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Norway, and Finland to the children of post-war Germany. Through such a familiarization, in my opinion, she aims to develop the intercultural skills in children of post-war children Germany. In Sonjas lustige Türkenreise, it appears that the author does not imply the destruction and consequences of the Nazi regime, even though she wrote in the beginning of the 1950s. On the contrary, she seems to bring an exemplary family life at the forefront of the new welfare society. Even the title Sonjas lustige Türkenreiseis striking, for it includes the words “Turkish Trip” instead of “Turkey Trip.” Therefore, it can probably be interpreted as a mental trip into the culture of the Turks, i.e., Asians. The novel is about “middle-class heroes” coming from good family backgrounds. In the novel, imagination and psychology become important elements for children to get away with the obligations of honesty (as a duty) and strict adherence to norms set by adults (see Steinlein, 2008, p. 327). In my opinion, this requires the involvement of Günther’s young girl novel into the texts of “child autonomy literature” (Ewers, 1995), i.e., into the field of the pacemaker texts, as the novel includes a free-spirited and rebellious protagonist. Not only is the relationship between parents and children important but also the way in which Günther reflects foreign worlds, in terms of pedagogy, is interesting, especially regarding the intercultural education of children of the new generation.

Keywords

• Else Günther,children’s novel,young girl novel,educational,child autonomy

References

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