Worldbuilding: Depiction of War and Trauma in Select Works of Mary Pope Osborne’s The Magic Tree House Series

Abstract

War is a catastrophic event with intense consequences affecting the physical and mental health of people. Literature for children represents war and trauma in myriad dimensions handling the sensitivity of topic and considering the vulnerable mindsets of young readers. Many authors have attempted to delve into the emotions and plight of the survivors of war in their works. One such is Mary Pope Osborne who rebuilds the past worlds and provides her readers with a vicarious experience of different historical events. Her readers and her characters are transported to the past to experience war trauma thereby helping them to comprehend its effects. The Magic Tree House series by Osborne is an attractive read that embodies various literary elements to enhance the reading experience. Osborne has effectively used the technique of worldbuilding to represent war and trauma in her series. The study attempts to analyse the role of world-building in providing the readers with a firsthand experience of war and trauma in the light of Cathy Caruth’s trauma theory. The paper concentrates on the role of literature in representing trauma; providing resilience through stories; and educating children about the cruelty of war, a social reality through fictional means of worldbuilding.