If you’re a children’s fiction writer, you’ve probably been warned against using anthropomorphic characters, like animals that talk or exhibit other human traits, in your stories. Indeed, anthropomorphism is a writing technique that many children's editors frown on today. But there was a time when talking animals dominated stories, and in the African culture, they were even regarded as heroes.
So why did African storytellers favor talking animals, and is there still a place for them in today’s children’s stories? The following may shed some light.
African Folktales – Where Anthropomorphism Thrived
Storytelling has been an especially common tradition among the African people since the beginning of time. Through folktales in particular, African storytellers would use animals with human traits to try to answer life’s questions, convey history, or teach lessons. Why anthropomorphic animals? Basically, they allowed storytellers to combine the agility and power of animals with human cleverness and trickery.
During the slave trade era, African folktales became more widespread. Storytelling was one of the few things African slaves could take with them on their passage to the West Indies and America. Their stories remained strong in their memories and soon became a great source of entertainment for enslavers. But folktales served the slaves well, too, as a means of identity, strategy, and hope.
Stories of Brer Rabbit are prime examples. Perceived as weak but swift, rabbits could outsmart stronger, more powerful animals. African slaves identified with this story hero, which – like foxes and bears – replaced traditional animals of African folktales, such as the lion, elephant, and hyena. Other cultures with oppressed people also used animals with human traits in an attempt to show how the weak could outwit the strong.
Anthropomorphic Characters in Modern Storytelling
Of course, anthropomorphic characters don’t just appear in folktales of the past. They can be found in a variety of stories, including myths, fairy tales, and fantasies – both past and present. In fact, many top-selling picture books and children’s magazines today use talking animals or animals with human traits to entertain and teach kids. Even so, anthropomorphism is a tough sell, according to children’s writing professionals, and must be handled cautiously.
Laura Backes, children’s writing instructor and publisher of Children’s Book Insider, says “the number one rule in children’s fiction writing will always be to base your story on endearing, believable, unique characters.” If a talking animal fits the bill, great. But, according to children’s author and editor Harold Underdown, “[o]ften, simply using human children works better in a story.”
On the other hand, anthropomorphic characters have enormous appeal to children. Because the competition for good anthropomorphized stories is fierce, though, writers must create exceptional talking animals to stand a chance at publication. Jan Fields, children’s author and web editor for the Institute of Children’s Literature, notes that there are a few key rules for using talking animals successfully, including they must live in a world different from ours, not have alliterative names, and never display violence.
Although children's writers are often discouraged from using anthropomorphic characters in their stories, talking animals may never become a thing of the past. Today, well-written and meaningful anthropomorphized stories continue to entertain and teach – much like African storytellers did years ago.
Sources:
- Backes, Laura. “Straight Talk About Talking Animals.” Write4kids.com (accessed June 17, 2011).
- Fields, Jan. “Talking Animal Stories.” Instituteforchildrenslit.com (accessed June 17, 2011).
- Leeming, David, and Jake Page. Myths, Legends & Folktales of America: An Anthology. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
- Underdown, Harold. “Getting Out of the Slush Pile.” Underdown.org (accessed June 17, 2011).
Susie Yakowicz - Susie Yakowicz is a Minnesota freelance writer whose work has appeared in dozens of publications for children and adults.
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