Winnie the Pooh-Version of Childhood being constructed

This chapter in ‘Winnie the Pooh’ encapsulates a time when children are often heavily praised for their achievements considering their lack of life experience and the many limitations that are presented with as a result of being a small child in an adult world, full of adult problems. The version of childhood constructed is that children have the potential to be quite innovative and unexpected in their logic. This originates from the assumption that the text makes about children’s initial innocence and failure to fully understand possible consequences or complexity of problems. Throughout the good and the bad, Pooh and his friends never fail to recognize a situation; no matter how serious, as an adventure with a potential positive outcome. Contradictory to this, when Piglet proposes that he couldn’t do anything to escape, it suggests to audiences that children are also likely to feel vulnerable to situations they have little or no familiarity with. Children are always seeking approval. This is exemplified when Pooh opts to make an excuse to avoid disapproval for his inability to read.

The element of innocence is displayed when both Christopher Robin and Pooh, make; what they think, to be a very clever assumption, ‘There’s a South Pole…I expect there is an east and a West pole, though people don’t like talking about them’. This verifies that not only that children lack knowledge of the world around them but also that they have the capacity to think widely and freely as they please (whatever’s said; goes). Recognition for Pooh’s display of ‘Bravery’ and acknowledgment of being ‘Clever’ is suggested to also be a primary element- highlighted by the capitalization of such words. This therefore proposes to audiences that if a child acquires such qualities, they should be praised. Whilst the text places an importance on this, the text also recognizes that children can often be in need of ‘Company’ to avoid feelings of ‘Anxiety’ also, which the text capitalizes for the same effect. It is proposed that children are to be praised for their ability to think of ideas that most adults wouldn’t even consider, ‘Pooh himself said something so clever could only look at him with mouth open and eyes staring’. As a reaction to this praise, Pooh bear responds in quite a shy and modest manner even though he contradictorily makes an excuse, ‘there was water in his eyes’ rather than him admitting to his inability to read. The lack of knowledge becomes obvious when the wise Owl speaks with complex vocabulary and Christopher doesn’t understand. This reinforces the idea that children are generally expected to not have gained the knowledge to interact with adults at such an advanced level. Vulnerability is also a common feeling shared between the young and particularly small characters of the play, ‘it’s a little anxious…to be a very small animal entirely surrounded by water…I cant do anything to escape,’ says Piglet. This exposes the complexity within the representation of childhood being constructed; whilst children have wild, adventurous imaginations, there is still an instinct-based understanding of consequences. The children of the book also seem to give the impression to the reader that in the face of a challenge, despite the lack of life experience, the desired or close to desired outcome will be reached, ‘[Pooh] never comes to any harm…he does silly things and they turn out right’. This reinforces the idea that children are typically carefree.

The visuals that accompany the story enhance the emotions that are being portrayed as standard for a child to experience in a traumatic situation. The image that shows Piglet looking warily down at the rising water reinforces the idea of vulnerability and puts into context the extent of the issue compared to the size and capability of little Piglet. These illustrations put into perspective for audiences the validity of the emotions being felt by the characters. Whilst the majority of images give off a sense of concern and doubt, they are illustrated to show the characters persistence to overcome the problem. An example of this would be Pooh attempting to sail the water in an umbrella. Whilst a sense of unsurety is present, the overall impression paints the picture of an innovative, adventurous and innocent child taking life as it comes.