CHILDREN’S INDEPENDENCE AND ADULTS’ ROLES IN ENID BLYTON’S THE SIX BAD BOYS, THE NAUGHTIEST GIRL AGAIN, AND NAUGHTY AMELIA JANE

Abstract

This is a study of Enid Blyton‟s The Six Bad Boys, The Naughtiest Girl Again, and

Naughty Amelia Jane. It aims to examine the kinds of children‟s independence when they find problems, to explain adults‟ roles in giving responds toward children‟s problems, and to analyze the author‟s ways to reflect children‟s independence in characterization. Theories on children‟s literature and psychological child development are used to facilitate the objectives of the research.

A  qualitative  research  method  was  employed  to  conduct  the  research.  The  data sources were taken from Blyton‟s The Six Bad Boys (2012), The Naughtiest Girl Again (1993), and Naughty Amelia Jane (1989). The data are sentences regarding the kinds of children‟s independence and adults‟ roles found from the novels. The novels were read and reread carefully to gain the reliable data. To analyze the data, taking notes and making categorizations were conducted. The validity and credibility of the findings were tested through triangulation procedure.

The findings of the research are as follows: (1) the kinds of children‟s independence

are divided into three categorizations: cognitive, social, and psychological independence. Cognitive independence has three sub-points: initiating actions, giving suggestions, and defending opinions. Social independence has three sub-categories, including expressing thankfulness, asking for apology, and providing help. Psychological independence contains three divisions: defining self-happiness, being courageous, and controlling the emotion; (2) adults‟ roles are described through their actions as reminders, partners in discussions, and supporters; and (3) the author reflects children‟s  independence in characterization through four ways: by actions, speech, other‟s comments, and author‟s comments.

Keywords: children‟s independence, adults‟ roles, children‟s  literature, hidden adults, Enid Blyton.