Bear Tales: Ways of Seeing Polar Bears in Mythology, Traditional Folktales and Modern-Day Children’s Literature

Abstract

The Polar Bear has been an important character in the mythology and traditional folktales of numerous Arctic and sub-Arctic peoples. It is among the most recognizable charismatic megafauna in the world and arguably the most iconic symbol of the far north. Increasingly, the polar bear has also come to represent the effects of anthropogenic climate change and global warming. The focus of this study is upon the various intercultural ‘ways of seeing’ the polar bear, from northern folklore to modern-day children’s literature, in order to assess the main themes, archetypes and character functions that have emerged over time. A sample of 71 fiction and non-fiction books about polar bears, published between 1982 and 2019, and aimed at early learner children of about 7 or 8 years of age, have been examined.