More Notes on The Golden Compass

Last month I wrote some notes for a post about The Golden Compass but never actually posted. Here are my notes basically 'as-is.' Later I might return and put them into some more organized form.

-- The dialogue and its effect/affectiveness

--Danger to children, how he emphasizes that the children really are children
Potter- no real sense of danger, but also an unrealistic world in the tradition of British school stories and Disney cartoons
--also treats the children as children, unlike say the Dark is Rising (which I love.)
All fantasy books do this to some extent, also most young adult mysteries and supernatural stories. The protagonist is a kind of "fantasy" figure for kids one with whom they identity but who is more powerful or competent than the reader. They are fantasies of adventure
Coming of age by having to adopt adult roles in semi-isolation. The children are often the leaders who accomplish the mission, sometimes hindered by adult authority figures. I also think in the case of Harry Potter, Hagrid is an important figure-- an adult who is somewhat irresponsible, not particularly bright, very emotional but lovable and loyal. I am simplifying quite a bit, but the children interact with an adult who they love but whose decision making skills are lesser than their own. The children fix Hagrid's mistakes and acknowledge his weaknesses This switches the roles of responsibility so that the children protect and excuse the teacher.