الفهرس 
Children’s Literature: A Theoretical BackgroundOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
J. K. Rowling’s series of seven fictional books create a world of fantasy in which reality coexists along its every single detail. Her clever treatment of fantasy in a new innovative way has been praised widely and has won the hearts of millions of fans and devoted readers worldwide.
In an attempt to study this literary phenomenon, the researcher tries to analyze Harry Potter from various different angels, whether literary angles by studying its narrative aspects and its relation to fantasy and children’s literature or by focusing on a personal human angle by studying the life of its author and its effect on Harry Potter. The study analyses the boundaries of fantasy in Harry Potter from different main four aspects. The first is in its relation to children’s literature, the second is the effect of Rowling on her hero, the third is the relation to the long traditions of fantasy literature and finally the narrative features of Harry Potter.
The present study is divided into a preface, four chapters, and a conclusion. The preface is a short introduction to the dissertation. Through the preface, the researcher aims to show the massive success of Harry Potter, the main story-line throughout the seven books; the main theme of the three selected novels, and the rationale of the dissertation. Throughout the preface, the researcher aims also to give a brief overview of the whole study in a very general way to its readers.
The first chapter studies in detail children’s literature in general, its various definitions, its history and its main characteristics. This is achieved with special reference to Harry Potter as a turning point in the development of children’s literature. This chapter also surveys the various trends of classifying the different sub-genres of children’s literature. It also discusses some of the problematic issues associated with children’s literature and some suggested ideas to deal with these problematic ideas.
The second chapter sheds light on Rowling’s actual life events. Her life story from early childhood till now and how far her life did shape the fictional world she creates. This chapter also attempts to provide possible answers for the mystery of the massive success of Harry Potter. That is after explaining the main themes around which the seven books of Harry Potter are revolved. The chapter also covers the different changes that Rowling coined in the field of children’s literature, whether on the level of form or content. That is in addition to the effect of these changes on the present forms of international children’s literature.
The third chapter treats fantasy literature. It surveys its various definitions and studies its historical development in an attempt to correct some of the common misconceptions about fantasy literature in its relation to reality. The chapter also shows the importance of fantasy to children’s literature, its different types and the conditions of a good fantasy work. Then the researcher focuses on explaining the features of Rowling’s fantasy world and the difference between Harry Potter and other traditional fantasy works. The researcher also attempts to specify the genre of Harry Potter novels in the light of the study conducted in the chapter.
The fourth chapter sheds light on the narrative aspects of Harry Potter. It traces the boundaries of reality and fantasy as in the narration of Harry Potter. This is mainly achieved after defining the meaning of narration, its historical development and its components. This chapter also studies the three selected works of Harry Potter via five narrative levels, namely story, characters, language, structure, and setting.
The conclusion sums up the overall findings of the study.