• Student: Ivon Huang
• National Pingtung University
• June 2022

Chapter 5 Conclusion

In conclusion, the researcher found out that The Wind in The Willows (Grahame, 1908) did have the elements of qualified literature based on several children’s literature theories suggested by the experts (Lukens, 2007; Peter, 1999; Crippen, 2012; Norton, 1993). First, the four round characters are well-designed and shaped. The readers could observe their personal grows easily from their behaviors and speaking, as defined by Lukens (2007, p.77). Also, there are several flat characters who make the story move forward: The loss of Portly’s son make round characters encounter the mysterious creatures in the woods; The kindhearted gaoler’s daughter helped Toad to escape from the prison. At last, few round characters would change their personality traits to some extents, while flat characters are the ones who push the story moving forward.

Second, two types of conflicts occurred in The Wind in The Willows: They are Person- against-self conflicts and Person-against-person conflicts. These conflicts are essential to this book because round characters made changes after conflicts, such as Toad: from pride to modesty. Thanks to his friends, he acknowledged his mistakes and made changes, so he turns out to be completely new Toad. By reading this, young readers would learn the positive ideas of human life which leads to an optimistic mind.

Third, the primary theme of the book is friendship because animals would help each other to overcome the difficulties. For example, Toad’s friends helped him fight against the Weasels, or the Mole comforted Water Rat while he lost his mind. This could help readers, especially children learn the spirits of helping each other imperceptibly. In these findings, this book does have qualified children book elements. Therefore, children’s literature is not only beneficial to children but the adults. By putting ourselves in shoes of others, readers would shift their perspectives. That means readers would have a different view of the world which is good for human’s life.

The experts provide the theories and guidelines of children’s literature books, so novelists could create brilliant and qualified works. By applying theories provided by experts, adults readers would be able to distinguish what are the qualified children books would be like. And parents will know how to select good books for their children.