An Analysis Of The "Dimensional Travel" In Plots Of Children's Literature And Its Educational Functions

"Dimensional travel"is frequently seen in the plots of children's literature in Western countries. This essay has made a generalization on the development and features of such travel in children's literature, and an analysis on its profound educational significances and functions.The story plot of"dimensional travel"in children's literature usually consists of two stages: 1. The protagonist, agonized by the undesirable reality, escapes into another and a magical world; 2. After entering into a magical world, the protagonist, fed with the hard conquest of the difficulties, acquires wisdom and grows into maturation."Dimensional travel"of this nature in children's literatures best represents the theories of the social constructivism. Firstly, the plight shown in children's literature is related with the real world and is the abstract version of the problem in real world, analogous in the degree of complexity. Secondly, children are at the center of such activities of story telling and reading. Thirdly, independent and open environment rich in elaborately designed indications and revelations have replaced boring dogmatic teachings in the story. Fourthly, emphases are placed on the process of children's self-recognition and maturation by enabling children to act on their own. The first stage of the"dimensional travel"plot fit well into the first two theories, and the second stage of the plot can be fully explained by the last two theories.Analyses are made in the thesis on the"dimensional travel"plot in six children's literary works from the three different periods, which mark the growth of children's literature in the Western world, to show the close relationship between plot of"dimensional travel"and social constructivism. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz in Chapter 1 represent the 19th century; Peter Pan and The Chronicles of Narnia in Chapter 2 represent the 20th century; Coraline and Harry Potter in Chapter 3 represent the 21th century. On the basis of these analyses, a conclusion is drawn as such: the theory of social constructivism and children's literature is in sync in many ways. Sharing the same enlightening and entertaining purpose, the social constructivism serves as a theoretical support for the children's literature, justifying its position in literature. As an embodiment of the social constructivism, children's literature exerts a constructive influence on the development of the children. Based on their deep understanding about children's logic, psychology as well as emotion, the authors of children's literatures pass values, morals and virtues to children through wild imagination and fantastic plot in their stories. Children are able to develop in an open and free environment, with the sense of identity and self-respect, while maintaining the sense of reality.