Exploring Implied Child Reader Techniques: A Comparative Analysis of Fantasy Narratives by Houshang Moradi Kermani and Mohammad Reza Shams

The use of fantasy in children's literature is essential for engaging a child's imagination and fostering critical thinking skills. It enables young readers to deepen their understanding of the real world while exploring imaginative elements such as magic and talking animals. Given the complexity of certain fantasy concepts, authors strive to present these ideas in an accessible manner, effectively guiding the implicit child reader embedded within the narrative. This study examines the components of the implied reader and their role in interpreting fantasy concepts within two short stories: "The Drum and the Basin" by Houshang Moradi Kermani and "The Nice Laughing Girl" Mohammad Reza Shams. The research seeks aims identify the presence of an implied child reader and how this reader facilitates the interpretation understanding fantasy elements. The findings indicate reveal differences between the two stories. The Drum and the Basin incorporates an implied child reader, features high levels of fantasy, employs a straightforward narrative, presents relatable characters, and includes external conflicts and messages that are easily understood by children, thereby emphasizing the element of advocacy. In contrast, The Nice Laughing Girl lacks an implied child reader, contains lower levels of fantasy, utilizes a more complex narrative and characterization, and exhibits a weaker use of advocacy and narrative gaps.
Introduction
Children's literature serves as a crucial cultural and educational tool, significantly shaping children's mentality and imagination. Among various genres, fantasy has consistently captivated both writers and readers of children's fiction due to its incorporation of imaginary and unreal elements. Fantasy not only allows children to explore worlds beyond reality but also fosters their ability to grasp complex concepts with curiosity and creativity. Aidan Chambers' theory of the implied reader in children's and young adult literature outlines techniques for identifying this implied reader. Among Chambers' four elements—style, point of view, advocacy, and narrative gaps—three elements (style, point of view, and narrative gaps) serve as tools for illustrating the implied reader. In contrast, advocacy focuses more on the relationship between the author and the implied reader rather than being a means of deducing the reader's presence. This paper aims to compare two fantasy short stories: The Drum and the Basin by Houshang Moradi Kermani and The Nice Laughing Girl by Mohammad Reza Shams, employing a descriptive-analytical approach. It will examine Chambers' four elements in these selected stories and explore the role of the implied child-reader in understanding fantasy concepts. Additionally, the paper seeks to address whether the implied reader exists in these works and how this presence aids children in better understanding and interpreting fantasy narratives. Based on Chambers' insights in his book "The Reader in the Text," this study will investigate whether the implied child-reader fundamentally exists in the works under examination. It will also explore how the presence or absence of an implied reader in Shams' and Kermani's works influences a child's comprehension of fantasy stories. Finally, the paper will examine the author's methods, functions, and techniques that construct the implied reader or child-reader within the text, using Chambers' four elements as a framework.
This research employs a descriptive-analytical method combined with a qualitative approach for data analysis. The study focuses on two contemporary Iranian fantasy stories for children and adolescents, specifically selected for their use of fantasy elements and their alignment with Aidan Chambers' theoretical framework. The primary data collection method is library research, supplemented by qualitative content analysis of the selected texts. The research closely examines fictional narratives by analyzing key components such as style, point of view, advocacy, and narrative gaps, all of which are essential to understanding the implied reader. Style analysis involves exploring linguistic techniques, sentence structures, imagery, and descriptions used in the stories, evaluating how these elements contribute to shaping the implied reader. Point of view involves analyzing the type of narrator and the narrator's attitude, exploring how these elements influence the reader's engagement with the narrative. Advocacy explores the author's perspective on childhood and the degree to which the author aligns with a child audience, emphasizing the relationship between the author and the implied reader. Narrative Gap identifies areas of ambiguity and significant gaps within the text that encourage the reader to actively engage in constructing meaning. The qualitative analysis is conducted using Chambers' framework, focusing on how these elements influence the implied reader's interpretation of the stories.
Conclusion
Kermani's "The Drum and the Basin Basin" Shams's The Nice "The Nice Laughing Girl" display a significant style, point of view, advocacy, and narrative gaps, all of which impact reader engagement influence emotional depth. Kermani utilizes a multifaceted employs style, incorporating diverse voices such as the fish seller boy, the angry father, and the concerned mother. This rich tapestry fosters relatability and empathy among young readers through nuanced emotional portrayals and realistic dialogue. In contrast, Shams's style is heavily adult-oriented and infused with fantastical elements, presenting moral themes in a simplistic, black-and-white manner. This limits emotional complexity and can render characters one-dimensional.
Point of view further distinguishes the two stories. Kermani's use of a first-person narrative through the fish narrator creates an intimate connection, allowing readers to step into the protagonist's shoes. This engaging tone makes the moral lessons accessible and relatable for children. Conversely, Shams employs a third-person perspective that creates distance between the readers and the characters, making it difficult for child readers to connect with the story’s emotional landscape and leaving them feeling more like observers. In contrast, Kermani strikes a balance between the worlds of children and adults, promoting empathy and facilitating identification with characters such as the supportive daughter and the frustrated father. This effective approach allows children to see themselves reflected in the story.
On the other hand, Shams's focus on adult-driven narratives that emphasize complex emotions stifles the story's ability to resonate with young readers, creating emotional distance. Narrative gaps also play a crucial role in engagement. "The Drum and the Basin Basin" uses relatable experiences—such as dealing with peer pressure and familial issues—to create meaningful gaps that foster reflection and deeper engagement. In contrast, “The Nice Laughing Girl” relies on a simplistic fantasy with underdeveloped characters, resulting in weaker gaps that fail to stimulate children’s imagination or emotions. While Kermani’s narrative encourages meaningful connections, Shams's work often leaves young readers feeling alienated from the characters and their challenges.
Results
The analysis reveals that Kermani successfully engages the implied child reader through a multifaceted narrative style, first-person perspective, and relatable characters, creating a rich and accessible fantasy experience. In contrast, Shams’s narrative lacks an implied child reader due to its reliance on a third-person perspective and themes that are more suited to an adult audience. This choice results in a significant emotional distance that diminishes engagement for younger readers. The fantasy elements in Kermani's work are sophisticated and immersive, fostering deeper emotional connections, whereas Shams's simplistic fantasy functions primarily as a mere plot device, rendering it less accessible to children. Consequently, Kermani's narrative strategies effectively cultivate empathy and connection, while Shams's approach fails to resonate with young readers, highlighting how the effectiveness of narrative techniques varies substantially based on the intended audience and their developmental needs.
Ethical Considerations
This study adheres to ethical guidelines in conducting research in children's literature. Additionally, the study avoids any form of plagiarism by properly citing all sources and providing a transparent methodology for data collection and analysis.
Funding
This research did not receive any external funding.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest related to this study.