On The Initiation Theme In Princess Academy

Initiation theme plays an important role in western literary history. It has been reflected in many literary works. In American literature, the initiation theme, especially the one concerning young adults, has a unique position. Shannon Hale is a famous writer for American young adult fiction. In her works, a lot of characters experience initiation. Princess Academy(2005), as Hale's representative work, has won Newbery Honor in 2006. It tells a story about a girl's initiation. So far, the research documents for this work are limited to the brief introduction to the plot or the simple after-reading comments. This thesis is aimed to analyze the initiation theme in Princess Academy through Miri's growth with the help of close reading as well as inductive method. In the whole book, Miri develops in three aspects which are self-awareness, value-orientation as well as her emotions.Introduction to this thesis gives some basic information about the author and her works, previous research on Princess Academy as well as some definitions concerning theme.The first chapter demonstrates Miri's growth in terms of self-awareness. It is showed from the angle of her changing process from a self-abased girl to an independent person. New environment brings her new chances. These chances give her internal plentitude and emotional independence. Miri conquers her inferiority complex and become a confident, ambitious and independent girl.The second chapter analyzes Miri's changes in value-orientation. At first, she concentrates on self-values; then, the sense of belonging arouses her love for her family and her hometown and awakens her family values and her collective values. She is not only a member of her family but also a daughter of her mountain. She is determined to contribute to the place where she is born and raised up.The last chapter explores Miri's maturity in emotions. It illustrates the growth in terms of the changes in: the first, the attitude towards blood relatives and love for hometown; the second, the recognition about companionship in the process of making three different kinds of friends; the third, the understanding of romantic relationship by means of comparing two different kinds of amatory experience.Conclusion of this thesis summarizes the initiation theme in Princess Academy from the perspectives of Miri's growth in self-awareness, her changes in value-orientation and her maturity in emotions.