The power of childhood fantasy in "In That Distant Place"

Morris Sendak (June 10, 1928 ~ May 8, 2012) was born in New York, USA. He is a descendant of Jewish immigrants. Many of his relatives died tragically in concentration camps. His national history has caused him to live in an atmosphere of loneliness and sadness since he was a child. He had been frail and sick since he was a child, and had a deep fear of death. "My grandmother once sewed me a set of all-white clothes, so that the God of Death would mistakenly think that I was dead and would not take me away." Sendak once said In the interview, he described his childhood as "perilous". Fortunately, his father is a master of stories and brings warm memories to his childhood.

Maurice Sendak had a particularly profound memory of his childhood, which also led to his greatest achievement in life.

Maurice Sendak is the most important children's book artist of the 20th century. He is known as "the greatest creator since the creation of picture books" and has won almost all the highest honors in the children's picture book industry. .

Maurice Sendak's "always obsessed" was childhood - how children survive in a world indifferent to their fate. The art form of picture books would provide him with the best opportunity to pursue this obsession. Also heal yourself and others in your creation.

He once said: What really shapes us is the child that few of us have the courage to face - that child who is impatient and demanding long before enlightenment reaches your heart. , the child who wants love and power but never gets enough, who is always angry and crying.

According to Sendak, childhood is the most insecure stage in life. You have no ability to protect yourself, and you can't even count on your parents.

The prototype of the childhood kidnapping case in the story "Somewhere Far Far Away" is the "Kidnapping of Lindbergh Kitty" and "Murder on the Orient Express" on March 1, 1932. Sendak was less than 4 years old at the time of the kidnapping. If a child whose father is a national hero who flew across the Atlantic, whose mother is a world princess, and who is guarded by a German shepherd at home, is kidnapped and killed, what hope does a child from an ordinary family have?

Don’t underestimate the fears and insecurities of childhood, they will accompany a person throughout his life; don’t underestimate the insight of children, they know everything, this is what Maurice Sendak reminds us.

1. To understand the work, it is necessary to know the story behind the work and the author's story.

2. Children will face emotions through fantasy to get through difficult moments in childhood.

3. Every child should complete his hero's journey, and fantasy is the best way. (Fantasy helps children grow)

There are often moments when the mother is not in place, and the children will be addicted to their own fantasy world and realize their fantasy hero's journey. (The story of the moment when my mother ran away mentally).

When children enter the world of fantasy, they are facing their own emotions, accompanying their own emotions, and using the power of emotions to help them grow.

Dad is away from home and mother is not available, so Aida has to help her mother take care of her sister. (In the picture, Ada hugs her sister up to 9 times, and the others are all beside Ada. There is only one place where her sister is farther away. Aida is very close to her mother, which shows that taking care of her sister puts a lot of pressure on the little girl.)

When a little girl faces her sister's constant crying alone, she will have many complex emotions in her heart: jealousy, fear, anger, confusion... She fantasizes that her heart is firm and powerful. , just as her father expected in the letter, "Brave and smart little Aida, you must take good care of your sister and mother."

Aida gained strength through the fantasy hero's journey and finally defeated the monster and saved her sister. , fulfilled her father's expectations, and this heroic journey also allowed her to grow up and truly accept the care of her sister.

An insight: Childhood is the best time to gain a sense of security, and childhood insecurity will affect life. The love and strength that parents give their children in childhood is the best medicine for children to constantly overcome difficulties or to help children find their way back.

An exercise: Are there any fantasies in memory? I have nothing to remember, and I don’t know how I spent so many fantasies as a child. I am just afraid, lonely, and maybe there will be a powerful guy in my fantasies. How can we know the real world of children's fantasy? Maybe it’s a book you’re obsessed with or a character you’re obsessed with.