Cycle Of Seasons

Decent Essays
Article Review The article ´´The Cycle of the Seasons: Without and Within Time´´ by Virginia L. Wolf published in the Children's Literature Association Quarterly, Volume 10, Number 4, Winter in 1986 compares and contrasts the following novels: E. B. White's Charlotte's Web, Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House in the Big Woods, Eleanor Estes's The Moffats, and Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, Part I. The article focuses on the analysis of nature´s life cycle and how it is represented through stories, Wolf explains ´´The cycle of the seasons gives them form and, in the process, meaning´´ (Wolf 193). The emphasis is to compare and contrast different stories, characters, settings, and seasons within the passing of time and the effect in the attitude, …show more content…
According to Wolf, winter is the most important season of this story. The theme of winter is compared with old age, the analysis of Wolf mentions ´´The reader's awareness that this winter's tale is that of a woman who once upon a time, sixty years ago,...lived in the Big Woods creates an illusion of permanence´´ (Wolf 194). The permanence and continuance of this story is compared with that of Charlotte´s Webb which emphasizes growth, maturity and change throughout the seasons. Another novel that contrasts with Little House in the Big Woods is Eleanor Estes's The Moffats, ´´The effect is to emphasize movement and passing time´´ (Wolf 194). The seasons throughout this story are more consistent with the passing of time and maturity of the characters. Wolf analysis explains ´´In the cycle of the seasons, Estes depicts the exciting variety of people and activities outside the yellow house. She elaborates change´´ (Wolf 195). The characters in the story experience different life situations similar to those of human existence and Wolf precisely compare themes as ´´loss and dew delights´´ (Wolf 195) that are exemplified in The Moffats and Charlotte´s Webb. The last novel of study, Little Women Part I by Louisa May Alcott emphasizes the season of winter; Wolf´s analysis of the characters and themes explains ´´The ideal of home and female values forms the heart of Little Women. Self-sacrifice and living for others are what Marmee tries to teach and what Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy try to learn. Beginning and ending near Christmas´´ (Wolf 195). The different circumstances the girls face throughout the story relate to the season’s cycle that develops as they growth and mature but winter season is focus of the most challenging situations that they experience throughout the

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