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Lucy is seen as a maternal figure. In the beginning of the story, Lucy is seen as the main protagonist. She has a big heart and cares about Tumnus the faun as soon as she meets him. Lucy doesn't treat Tumnus differently when she meets him, despite Lucy never before seeing a creature like him. This illustrates the beauty in Children’s Literature. We also see an allusion to the bible when the Faun says, “Excuse me— I don’t want to be inquisitive— but should I be right in thinking that you are a Daughter of Eve?” (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,11) Lucy is more adventurous than her siblings. Edmund, on the other hand, is more self-centered. He wants to be the best loved sibling. Peter, the oldest, even says “You’ve always liked being beastly to anyone smaller than yourself… .” (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,49)

The reader sees how the sibling rivalry manifests itself when Lucy was telling her other siblings, Peter and Susan, that Narnia was a real place and that Edmund had been there. Edmund initially discredits Lucy because he doesn't want her to be the center of attention. “Oh yes, Lucy and I have been playing—pretending that all her story about a country in the wardrobe is true. Just for fun, ofcourse. There’s nothing there really.” (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,48). Once all the siblings enter Narnia through the wardrobe, Peter immediately apologizes to Lucy for doubting her. Edmund refuses to apologize.

The reader notices tension between Lucy and her brother Edmund, when he tries to make his sister seem untrustworthy. The readers recognize the difference between Edmund and Lucy when the Witch tries to convince him to bring his siblings to her castle. This shows that unlike Lucy, Edmund was more interested in power and accepting the Turkish delights as a bribe to be the King of Narnia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-BnixSg63k

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Biblical allegory is shown in this text through Aslan. Aslan is seen as a patriarchal figure to everyone in Narnia. Aslan makes a deal with the Witch to sacrifice himself instead of Edmund to save him. This is similar to Jesus’s sacrifice in the New Testament. Aslan is killed by the Witch and her followers. Lucy and Susan both witness Aslan die and go to care for his dead body. Aslan has not told them that he would be resurrected. He may have been testing the girl's loyalty to him. Although Aslan died, Lucy and Susan stayed by his side and this may have contributed to his resurrection. When Aslan is resurrected, it reminds the reader of Jesus’s resurrection after his crucifixion.

There are many moments in the book when Aslan is shown as being very similar to Jesus Christ. As Lucy and Susan were mourning the death of Aslan, they noticed the stone tablet, on which he was laying, had been cracked. Aslan was standing behind them shining in the sunrise. Lucy screamed in excitement, “Oh, you’re real, you’re real! Oh, Aslan!”. (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, 178). This moment related very much to the Gospel description of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday when the apostles encountered the Risen Lord.

This video describes the similarities in the book between Aslan and Jesus Christ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRGcnmwLsmQ 00:00-2:49.

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In this book, there are two categories in which the females are placed, a maternal figure or an evil figure. In 1950, when this book was written, the feminist movement had not yet arisen. Women at the time were considered homemakers or focused on having a career but had no family. Despite putting the female characters in the book into categories of good or evil, they are the true examples of how the story is told. Perhaps C.S. Lewis didn't see women as any more than how he portrayed them in the book.

In the book, we see Lucy and Susan as gentle, maternal figures to their brothers and everyone in Narnia. They are representing most women of the time. They are not overly assertive in the pursuit of taking back Narnia from the Witch, almost as if their brothers are superior. On the other hand, the Witch is devious, deceitful and terrifying. She is seen as the opposite of Susan and Lucy. She has no moral compass and has no concern for life. When the Witch sets off to find the children, she comes across a party of animals and they are indulging themselves with fine food and drink. The Witch gets mad and says “What is the meaning of this gluttony, this waste, this self-indulgence?” (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, 126). The Witch waved her wand and turned them all into stone statues. She is willing to do anything to remain the Queen of Narnia. These two personality traits were the two boxes that females were put into at the time this book was written.

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In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, the story has many similarities to the seven deadly sins. The seven deadly sins are the classic seven vices in the Christian religion. They are Gluttony, Greed, Pride, Sloth, Envy, Lust and Wrath. The children in the book are identified by their behavior with various of these vices. For example, Augustus Gloop, the boy who overeats and eventually falls into the chocolate river, is associated with Gluttony. Veruca Salt, the spoiled girl who wants everything given to her, is compared to Greed. Violet Beauregard continuously talks about her championship gum chewing abilities. She embodies Pride. Mike Tevee represents Sloth because he is fixated on doing nothing more than watching television. Grandpa Joe envies Mr. Wonka for the wonderful factory he has. Wonka represents Wrath because he got very angry at the behavior of some of the children. Finally, Charlie is associated with Lust. This is because of the excess attention he paid to getting himself a Golden Ticket.
https://medium.com/@madinasid/seven-sweet-sins-61599c13c95e

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Mr. Willy Wonka is the main character in the book. He is the factory owner and he uses the Oompa Loompas as his workers. The factory is first shown to be a very foreboding place. Some would say that Wonka is actually portrayed as the Devil. His characteristics can be seen as deceitful and untrustworthy. He is deceitful because it was intended to be a fun trip to the factory for these children but ended up being a horrible experience for all of them except Charlie. This includes their parents, too. He is also deceitful in his intentions for the opportunity when a child wins a Golden Ticket. Wonka seems like a philanthropist but it’s really because he needs an heir.

Wonka is eccentric but he is also arrogant. He doesn't like the behaviors of the children because he needs to control them and they're not doing exactly what he says. In response to their behaviors, he punishes them. Another example of his evil ways is how Mr. Wonka is hypocritical. He criticizes the children but behaves very superficially himself. He laughs his head off or acts like it's not a big deal when something bad happens to the children. After Augustus falls into the chocolate river and goes up the pipe, Mrs. Gloop says, “Just look at him! He’s laughing his head off! How dare you laugh like that when my boy’s just gone up the pipe! You monster!” (page 75). These qualities of Mr. Wonka compare to the Devil.

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Charlie Bucket is the hero child of the book. However, he is the only poor child of the five who found the Golden Ticket and got the chance to go to the Chocolate Factory. The author makes a point of telling the reader how poor the Bucket family is. Dahl spends time in the first chapter describing the small wooden house at the edge of a great town where the Bucket extended family lives. The readers are told that the house was not large enough for so many people and it was extremely uncomfortable. There are only two rooms in the whole house, and only one bed. The house is very drafty in the winter and everyone was always hungry, especially Charlie.

Dahl did this to contrast the richness of the Chocolate Factory and to make it seem like Charlie was really lucky to be pulled out of poverty. Charlie was tortured by the difference between his life and the enormous Chocolate Factory within sight of his house. It was a   “tremendous, marvelous place.” (page 7) This opportunity to find a Golden Ticket puts pressure on Charlie to save his family from poverty.

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Alice, the protagonist in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, is a very smart young girl. When she goes down the rabbit hole, her whole world flips upside down and she forgets everything she has ever known. Alice is a rule follower and expects things to be logical in Wonderland. When she finds out that there is no logical explanation for all the things that are going on around her, Alice needs to figure out what to do. She needs street smarts.

Some critics have said that the author’s portrayal of Alice was because he was unhappy with the way young girls were being educated in Victorian England. Upper class children were taught by tutors, and most lower class children didn't even go to school. Education during this time was not a very practical way to succeed in the world. As the story progresses, Alice needs to become smarter in her surroundings and does this by thinking on her feet and asking for help from the creatures when she needs it. Eventually, Alice becomes self confident and finds her voice in Wonderland.

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The tea party was a big part of the story in the book. In fact, the tea parties are so important that the Mad Hatter, who is otherwise somewhat rude, continually has tea because in his mind, it's always six o’clock. Which is teatime. Tea parties were very popular in many parts of English society at the time this book was written. Tea parties were thought of as elegant social occasions. Many societies had tea parties with acquaintances every day. Tea parties were also held by young children who would put dolls, stuffed animals and other family members around the table. Perhaps Alice always wanted to be invited to a tea party.

Alice is a guest at a tea party with the Hatter, the March Hare and the little door mouse who sleeps most of the time. During the tea party, the creatures are continuously asking Alice questions and riddles, although manners were considered very important at tea parties. Alice finally has enough and decides to leave saying, “It’s the stupidest tea-party I ever was at in all my life!” (page 82).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma4DKSXNVAE

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The Cheshire Cat plays an interesting role in the novel. Alice sees the Cheshire Cat as a friend. Alice first meets him in the Duchess's kitchen. Later she sees him on the branches in a tree. The Cheshire Cat is seen as a guiding figure in Alice’s journey in Wonderland. The Cat has a mysterious grin. He exposes the underlying logic behind Wonderland to Alice. She also confides in the Cat with her frustrations about the rules in Wonderland, and he is the only character that listens to her.

Alice is amazed and comforted by the Cheshire Cat. While talking to the Cat in the tree, the Cat starts to slowly vanish, beginning at his tail. Eventually all that was left was his grin. “ ‘Well! I’ve often seen a cat without a grin,’ thought Alice; ‘but a grin without a cat! It's the most curious thing I ever saw in all my life!’ ” (page 69)

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In Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff, Hollis Woods is a young girl who has been in and out of foster homes. She finally has a family to call her own. This book shows that a foster child can eventually have a happy ending in her life. This is very unrealistic for foster children in the real world. Although this book emphasizes the positives that Hollis Woods has capitalized on, the reality is much different. Many foster children never end up in happy homes. They spend their childhood in several different foster homes where they are often unhappy.

The story of Hollis Woods can be an inspiration to other foster children. They are able to relate to her longing for a family and they can dream of the happy ending that Hollis had. Hollis had to overcome many obstacles in her search for a family. The readers see that she matured when she had to take care of Josie. Most foster children need to grow up fast and mature because they have to take care of themselves, much like Hollis. Also, when Hollis finds the Regans, she has to work to earn their love. Other foster children can be encouraged to work hard to find happiness. However, the reality is that most foster children will grow up and out of the foster care system without ever having a permanent home.

Attached below is a link to statistics regarding foster children in the United States

https://adoptionnetwork.com/adoption-myths-facts/domestic-us-statistics/

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In the book, Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff, one of the main characters is an older woman named Josie Cahill. The reader sees that Josie is developing memory loss and confusion which are often signs of Alzheimer’s or Dementia in older people. At first, Hollis is upset and worried about what would happen to Josie if she were not around. Hollis is also worried about what she would do without Josie if Josie couldn’t live with her anymore. Hollis begins to find ways to cover for Josie forgetting certain things and words. Hollis tries to keep up the facade of normalcy. Josie is failing and Hollis is compensating for that. The reader is left wondering whether Hollis should not be with Josie or that the situation is found out so that they both can be better cared for. Josie should be taking care of Hollis, not the other way around.

Hollis is put in a predicament about Josie. She thinks, “I couldn't leave Josie. I couldn’t stay. It was a puzzle.” (page 74). Hollis makes a daring plan to run away again, but this time, she brings Josie with her. She can’t leave Josie but she knows she can't stay. At this point, Hollis becomes the adult and the protector of Josie who is becoming more child-like. This is a very heavy responsibility for a young girl to take on. Alzheimer’s and Dementia are becoming more prevalent every year in the United States. Many children and care-givers of these people find themselves unable to care for their loved ones. How can Hollis be expected to take care of Josie?

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The Regan family has a winter home in Hancock, New York. They also have a summer home in a town called Branches which was not that far away but it was a rural town. Hollis found this summer home to be a very comforting place when she was there with the Regans. In front of their summer house was a river and beyond the river was what Hollis called, the “Old Man’s Mountain.” Between the house, the river, and the Regan family, Hollis became convinced that this was the perfect place. She fantasized constantly about how her life would be if she was their real daughter.

As the story progresses, the reader learns about Hollis’s close connection with the Regan family and the house in Branches. She spent the summer there with them and she now connects happinesses with that place. When she decides to run away with Josie, that is the refuge that she seeks. Perhaps Hollis thinks that everything will work out when she gets to Branches. But then, the readers learn about the reality of both Hollis’s summer at Branches and the reality of what it would take to care for Josie alone there in the Winter.

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In Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Simon is shown to have a very close relationship with his parents and his two sisters. The reader sees them kidding and joking with each other but also very supportive of each other’s lives. His family appears to support Simon but he reveals to the reader something that they don't know about him. Simon feels that if he tells his family about his deepest secret, they will not accept him. This is also shown to be how Simon feels about his close friends, Abby, Nick and Leah. The reader learns this as Simon confides his fears to his diary. As the story progresses, Simon’s fears build about letting his family and friends know his secret. Numerous times he attempts to tell them but he doesn’t. Eventually it just comes out when he tells Abby. This is immediately prior to the Tumblr post in which he is outed to the world. He is then forced to tell his parents. Happily for Simon, his family and then all his friends are all supportive of him.

This is not always what happens in reality. Many people are ostracized and family members will not be accepted. Perhaps this book is encouraging but is also unrealistic for many people going through the same experience. With a good support system including family and friends people feel more comfortable to share their true identity with the people they love. As Simon’s mother says, “We’re proud of you.” (page 164)

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Throughout the novel, Simon is constantly changing. He often gets frustrated when his parents make comments about how he is “changing” from the person he used to be. Although Simon gets mad when his parents say he is changing, he doesn’t want his sisters or his friends to change from the people they used to be. Simon and his friends are all at an age when they are finding their personalities changing from childhood to adulthood. This is shown in many instances in the story. The reader sees this taking place in personal relationships and in school activities such as the school play. Every one of Simon’s friends are evolving and finding their identity. As the reader learns from reading Simon’s diary and his emails, Simon is changing just as much as everyone else. However, Simon doesn’t feel like anyone else is entitled to change. He wants them all to stay the same. As Simon tells Abby, “ ‘[b]ut they’re supposed to be Alice and Nora. They’re not supposed to be different’ ”.  Alice says to Simon, “They’re not allowed to change? … But you’re changing. You’re different than you were five months ago ”. (page 235)

After Simon tells everyone how much he has changed and reveals his secret, the reader sees how much Simon is more accepting of everyone else’s evolving as they grow. For example, Abby and Nick become a couple and Simon is supportive of their relationship. Another example is Leah. When Simon finds out that Leah is in a band with his sister, he is very supportive and enthusiastic about this new activity she's a part of. This shows character development in Simon and how he is maturing.

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In the book, Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Simon’s sexuality is revealed before he is ready to tell the people he loves. Martin, who outed Simon with a Tumblr post, was also the one who was blackmailing him. This betrayal was the most hurtful thing to happen to Simon, even if Simon did not outwardly show it. He deserves the right to the narrative of his life. This was a big deal to Simon and he let Martin know it in a very emotional encounter. Eventually, Martin realized that what he did was very wrong. The reader can tell that Martin feels guilty for what he has done. Simon says to Martin, “This was supposed to be— this is mine. I’m supposed to decide when and where and who knows and how I want to say it.” (page 196).  Revealing something as personal as who Simon is, should be Simon’s decision alone. He is the only person who knows what to say, how to say it, who to say it to, and when to say it. A coming out moment has to be on Simon’s own terms. When Martin outed Simon, he took away that personal decision from Simon. There is really not much of a worse thing you can do to someone. It was not Martin’s secret to tell.

Simon’s sexual identity is his own business. He needs to find a way to reveal it and explain it to his family and friends but instead he is pushed out by Martin before he is ready. In the end, Simon is able to be his true self even after everything has happened. He realizes that the love of his family and friends do not change just because he is gay.

In the link below, is this powerful scene in the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD5Ut1yQ-4E

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The character of Rowdy, Junior’s best friend on the reservation, is the complete opposite from Junior. Although both characters are broken, Junior is trying to make his life as successful as it can be while Rowdy doesn’t care what happens to him. Rowdy is beaten down both physically and mentally. Junior is his only support. When Junior leaves the reservation, Rowdy lashes out because he has no one left to support him. Junior, on the other hand, sees a future for himself by attending Reardan high school. Even though Junior also lived in a depressing situation, he found it within himself to attend school most days even if it meant walking twenty-two miles. Was it fair that Junior left Rowdy behind? The story makes clear that Junior can not take everyone with him. Junior can’t hold back his success and he can’t take responsibility for Rowdy.

Rowdy and Junior are very similar in some ways but Junior is self-directed. Despite both of them having poor family lives, Junior’s parents show up for him at his games and support his choice to go to Reardan. In comparison, Rowdy’s family seems absent. At the end of the novel, when Rowdy and Junior seem to be reconciling, there is a hint that maybe Rowdy too will attend Reardan next year. Maybe all Rowdy needs is Junior’s support for him to be successful.

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Throughout the novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, the reader sees Junior fighting for life as a Spokane Indian in a white community. As the story progresses, the reader learns that Junior develops dual allegiances. He is torn between his new life at Reardan and his life on the reservation. Initially Junior has doubts and feels that he is betraying his tribe by leaving the reservation. This is reinforced by how is treated by the Indians crowd at the basketball game on the reservation. “The rez basketball fans were chanting, ‘Ar-nold sucks! Ar-nold sucks! Ar-nold sucks!’ They weren’t calling me by my rez name, Junior. Nope, they were calling me by my Reardan name.” (page 143)

Junior has to reconcile these two lives, which means his education and his reservation. Can he have two lives that everyone supports? He knows it was important to leave the reservation because if he waited he may never actually go. Junior knows that his life will have more choices, such as attending college, if he keeps attending Reardan. Life on the reservation can be a dead end for his big dreams.

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Junior constantly compares the lives of the white students at Reardan with the lives of the people on the reservation. It becomes very clear that the white students have much more material and emotional support than the children on the reservation. In one instance, Junior draws how none of the Indian students have backpacks. Obviously there is an economic disparity between the two groups. At first Junior thinks he would be treated differently and discriminated against. He instead makes friends and learns that he would be judged on his personality not by his lack of material possessions. This is something that Junior is surprised to learn.

When Penelope asks Junior if he was poor and he say yes, he doesn’t know what is going to happen. “I figured she was going to march out of my life right then. But she didn’t. Instead she kissed me. On the cheek. I guess poor guys don’t get kissed on the lips. I was going to yell at her for being shallow. But then I realized that she was being my friend.” (page 127) In fact, Junior’s other friend Roger becomes an even more supportive friend when he finds out about Junior’s poverty. Junior also learns from Reardan that not only poor people have problems. Despite Gordy being so smart, he isn’t very well liked and Penelope, despite being so pretty, suffers from bulimia. These instances make Junior realize that problems aren't just on the reservation. This concept makes Junior feel more understanding