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| "Ennui" (ca. 1914) by Walter Sickert |
The narrator's children differentiate between personal anecdotes, which have "no particular shape or message to hammer home," and "real" stories, which do (93). Her children prefer "stories."
Is this preference a reflection of their age? Do adults also prefer narratives that have a "message to hammer home"?
What is the purpose of shapeless anecdotes that don't offer a payoff message or a clear takeaway? Is entertainment value their only measure of worth?
I would say that, yes, this preference is a reflection of their age. As adults, we often seek stories with a message that teaches us something , because if there is no message, then we often see no reason to read it. In contrast, children prefer stories that give them a chance to bend to their imaginations, and don’t mind not having a central theme to cling to as they listen. I believe they prefer these stories because it’s easy for them to imagine the possibilities of what the story was about for themselves instead of having the message placed before them.
ReplyDeleteAvery, I totally agree. I feel much of the joy that children receive from stories is lost on adults, as we tend to want a deeper meaning rather than harmless fun. I think this can really be seen in the book when the father tells the children stories that mix realms and characters into one mess. Which, to an adult, just seems stupid and pointless, while in comparison, for the children it's mindless fun.
DeleteInteresting question. I think there are multiple factors at play in this conundrum. Certainly age plays a factor in their preference of playful imaginative stories. Also, their personalities are part of this dynamic. There are definitely children out there that likely prefer stories with a tangible lesson
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