What can Maisie know in literature and film? The role of knowledge in Henry Jamess novel 'What Maisie knew'

Zusatztext

Essay from the year 2015 in the subject Didactics - English - Literature, Works, grade: 1,3, University of Frankfurt (Main) (Institut für Englisch- und Amerikastudien), course: Hauptseminar, language: English, abstract: Henry Jamess novel depicts the story of a six-year old child that is involved into the problem of complicated parental relationships. It deals with the theme of a "dysfunctional family" and the egoistical abuse and neglect of a child. Whereas these themes seem to be obvious and determining for the novel, there is one topic that solely appears on closer observation. This mentioned topic is concerned with knowledge and intelligence, especially with that of the novels protagonist Maisie. Indeed, the novels title indirectly comprises the relevance of knowledge, alone because the reader wants to find out what Maisie knows. However, the topic seems to recede into the background. On closer inspection it becomes obvious that knowledge and gaining insight run like a thread through the entire novel. This essay analyses the role of knowledge in Henry Jamess novel "What Maisie knew" and Siegels and McGehees film of the same title. Furthermore, it tries to answer the question what role Maisies knowledge plays in novel and film. After defining the term "knowledge" this essay proceeds with applying the definitions to Jamess heroine Maisie. Furthermore, it analyses the different types of knowledge that play a role in Jamess novel and the circumstances that have an impact on Maisies knowledge. Given the fact that Siegels and McGehees film represent an adaption of Jamess novel, the importance of knowledge in the film will be analyzed in the essays final section as well. It concludes in saying that knowledge is important for the young heroines development and her way towards maturity. Whilst knowledge and Maisies insights have a great impact on the course of the novel, McGehees and Siegels film emphasizes the consequences of bad parenting.

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