Calista's Literature Adventure

Prompt:  In some works of literature, childhood and adolescence are portrayed as times graced by innocence and a sense of wonder; in other works, they are depicted as times of tribulation and terror. Focusing on a single novel or play, explain how its representation of childhood or adolescence shapes the meaning of the work as a whole. You may select a work from the list below or choose another appropriate novel or play of similar literary Essay: In Ragnarok: The End of the Gods  by A. S. Byatt, the thin child moves away from home and her childhood innocence as World War II erupts throughout Europe. Byatt contrasts the child's certainty found only in the apocalyptic ending of Ragnarok to her disillusionment with the idea of a positive end to war around her. Through Byatt's portrayal of the thin child's loss of faith, she argues that a total rebirth of culture and ideals is necessary for the continuation of mankind.       As war erupts across Europe and the bl...