The Legacy of Traditional Thai Literature and its Impact on Contemporary Children’s Literature

Abstract

Literature is a significant part of any nation’s cultural heritage, its continuing existence depending on the values which are handed down from era to era, from generation to generation. Most traditional Thai literature follows the same conventions. The influence exerted by western literature helped to foster the development of contemporary Thai literature, but at the same time relegated traditional literature to the back burner, seemingly remote from contemporary Thai life. This can clearly be seen in contemporary children’s literature; for example, it is obvious that at the present time the books in The Adventures of Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling are bestsellers that have captured the hearts of children all over the world. Witches and the magic of the western world are borrowed by authors of children’s literature and even play a role in some Thai children’s books as well. Nevertheless, there are a number of Thai writers who appreciate traditional Thai literary works and who have made an effort to revive some works of traditional Thai literature both in terms of content and style. They narrate new versions of classical literature in modern form and with more up-to-date content in a manner that appeals to young readers.