The liberating potential of modern high fantasy: A case study of the exploration of self among adolescent girls in a home-based literature discussion group

This qualitative research study examines adolescent girls' literary responses to modern high fantasy with strong female protagonists in the context of a literature discussion group. The home-based literature group met over the course of sixteen weeks to discuss nine young adult novels. During this time, the girls also participated in individual interactive interviews and kept personal journals. Data from these three activities became the basis for analysis.;While the girls exhibited a range of literary responses to the novels, most responses reflect their engagement with the characters on a personal level which centered around issues of self. A working model of engagement with characters is included which comprises the three aspects/foci of: (1) role models; (2) choices; and (3) "what ifs." The role models refers to those in the characters' lives, including both male and female, and evaluating their strengths, weaknesses and influences on the characters. The choices refers to the choices/behaviors/actions of the protagonists, considering whether the protagonists had control of their choices, were confident in them (or not), and accepted responsibility for them. The "what if" aspects demonstrated the girls' changing responses to and reflections on the different choices and situations the protagonists face in regards to both the lives of the protagonists and their own lives. This model indicates that there is a liberating potential when adolescent girls identify with strong female protagonists faced with oppressive or challenging obstacles.;These findings suggest that adolescent readers be given the opportunity to not only read stories with strong female protagonists, as previously suggested, but to also be allowed to explore their responses over a period of time, comparing characters to each other and with themselves, before reaching any final conclusions or undergoing assessment.;Suggestions for further research include: (1) additional studies of adolescent female readers under similar conditions, (2) studies of literature discussion groups focused on character identification, and (3) long-term studies of the liberating potential of stories, like the ones used in this study with strong female protagonists. These studies would follow females through adolescence and young adulthood.* ftn*Originally published in DAI vol. 56, no. 9. Reprinted here with corrected title.