Browsing by Author "Daher, Iman"

Objectives. The focus of this study is the depiction of the death of a parent in children's and youth literature. I studied four children's books, their stories, how the death of a parent is described and dealt with in children's and youth literature, and how the experience of loss and the resulting feelings of sadness are described from the point of view of the child protagonist. While doing the research, the possibility of literature as a provider of peer experiences also emerged as an interesting theme. Methods. This research was carried out using qualitative methods, examining four children's and youth books. The method used was material-oriented content analysis, more precisely close reading. The analysis is based on my own views as a student of educational sciences and Finnish language and literature, as well as extensive background theory. Results and conclusions. The results of my research showed that children's and youth literature deal with the death of a parent in a versatile and emotional way. Death was depicted from the point of view of children of different ages, both from a physical and a psychological point of view. The study also showed how much literature has the potential to act as a support in dealing with death. Peer support in literature can help understand and express grief in a shocking situation, offer solutions, and contribute to the child's emotional skills and well-being.