Narratological Perspective on Death and Grief in Children's Literature: “The Ghost Postman” Example

Abstract

“The Ghost Postman” to be analyzed is a children's picture story book. The adventure of a child in the process of mourning in this book, in which he accepts death by using his imagination with the help of his mother, also carries a reference to sleep, which is the most important door that opens to the subconscious. While the story was being told, the pictures were also spoken. The subject of death, which is widely covered and general, is incomprehensible like other abstract concepts in the world of children. Losing and mourning a loved one causes mental trauma, even for adults, while the loss of a parent seems more difficult for a child to understand and accept. However, the child who looks at death from his own world, from the game window, accepts this fact more easily. Because he lives in a world with no borders, intertwined with dreams and reality, and he has decorated it with his dreams. In Ghost Postman, the child's exit from this mourning process is explained and made more evident with pictures. The theme of this story, written by Nurgul Atesh, is love, and it is intended to convey the message that people can overcome all difficulties with the power of love, overcome the difficulties encountered, and turn negativities into beauty by imagining.