A new historicist reading of katherine paterson's bridge to terabithia (1977)

Abstract

This research paper, entitled A New Historicist Reading of Katherine Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia (1977), offers a close reading of the novel through the lens of Stephen Greenblatt’s theory of New Historicism. It explains how history, culture, and society of the 1970s influenced the way characters grow emotionally and build their identities. Through an examination of how these individuals respond to social pressures and are molded by outside forces, this study identifies the site of intersection between individual experience and cultural narratives. By employing Greenblatt’s concepts of Self-fashioning and the Anecdote, the research illustrates how Bridge to Terabithia gives us a reflection of the emotional complexity of childhood in its socio-historical context. It further illustrates how children’s literature can subtly shape the prevailing ideologies of its time. In conclusion, the research highlights the importance of New Historicist theory in revealing the depth of history of children's literature as well as its role in cultural awareness.