Fantasy In Three Children’s Fictions:in The Light Of Psychoanalysis Of Fairy Tales

The theme "Fantasy" in literature has always been favored by readers at all levels. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865), Bridge to Terabithia (1977) and The Daydreamer (1994) are chosen as objects of study. Although these fictions attract many critics’attention and have been studied from different research perspectives, there is still little interpretation of these three fictions from the perspective of psychoanalysis of fairy tales, let alone fantasies in these fictions.In the following four chapters, the fantasies of these three fictions are analyzed through Bruno Bettelheim’s psychoanalysis of fairy tales. Chapter1talks about the fantasy of settings in three fictions. The children’s fantasy world tends to be both real and illusory because the real environment can arouse their resonance which will integrate them with the fantasy world. Besides, the world full of magic and wonders endows them courage and confidence to fight against the bad. Chapter2investigates the characters that occur in their fantasies and the reasons why children in these three fictions like to fancy. On the one hand, it is the externalization and projection of children’s inner emotions like fear, hope and love. On the other hand, it is a kind of transformation of figures who are unaccepted by children in reality. Chapter3studies the fantasy in the plots. The integration of children’s id, ego and superego can be seen from the fantasy stories. It is a symbol of children’s growth. The last chapter probes the functions of children’s fantasy. It reveals the spiritual maturation of characters in three fictions with the help of fantasy. In conclusion, functions of fantasy are described from the perspective of psychological study of fairy tales to highlight the practical significance of children’s fantasy.In the light of psychoanalysis of fairy tales, this thesis analyzes "fantasy" of three fictions. The conclusion is that fantasy of children can reflect their inner experiences and understanding of the world no matter which era they are in. Because of it people should not despise the importance of fantasy literature and ignore its educational significance to the growth of children.