Roald Dahl and philosophy : a little nonsense now and then

Format:

Book

Title:

Roald Dahl and philosophy : a little nonsense now and then

ISBN:

9781442222526

Publication:

Lanham, Maryland : Rowman & Littlefield, [2014]

Physical Description:

ix, 249 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Contents:

Introduction: Roald Dahl and absurdity: children's literature and the divorce between the mind that desires and the world that disappoints / Jacob M. Held -- Epicurus and the chocolate factory / Benjamin A. Rider -- On getting our just desserts: Willy Wonka, Immanuel Kant, and the summum bonum / Jacob M. Held -- Matilda, existentialist superhero / Elizabeth Butterfield -- The existential journey of James Henry Trotter: Kierkegaard, freedom, and despair in James and the giant peach / Matthew Bokma and Adam Barkman -- Of mice and (posthu)man: Roald Dahl's The witches and ethics beyond humanism / Taine Duncan -- "Who is this crazy man?": Willy Wonka's uneasy predicament / Cam Cobb -- "He will be altered quite a bit:" discipline and punishment in Willy Wonka's factory / Marc Napolitano -- Matilda and the philosophy of education, or what's an education for? / John V. Karavitis -- Shattering the glass elevator: authenticity and social order in the works of Roald Dahl / Joseph J. Foy and Timothy M. Dale -- The fantastically just Mr. Fox: property and distributive justice according to foxes and other diggers / Jacob M. Held -- Willy Wonka and the imperial chocolate factory / Ron Novy -- George's marvelous medicine, or: what should we do about global hunger? / Janelle Pötzsch -- Crodswoggle, flushbunking, and all things friendship in the BFG / Chad Kleist -- Charlie and the nightmare factory: the art of children's horror fiction / Greg Littmann -- Brimful of buzzburgers: a human bean's wild possibilities / Miranda Nell -- Dewey's marvelous medicine: negative capability, and the wonder of Roald Dahl / Tanya Jeffcoat.

Summary:

Classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, and The BFG may initially appear to be yarns spun for the amusement of the adolescent mind. However, upon digging deeper, one uncovers a treasure trove of philosophical richness that is anything but childish, and which reveals the true existential weight, and multi-layered meaning of some of our favorite children s stories.

Personal Subject:

Dahl, Roald-Criticism and interpretation.

Dahl, Roald. (OCoLC)fst00035564

Subject(s):

Philosophy in literature.

Children's stories, English -- History and criticism.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Added Author:

Held, Jacob M., 1977-

Electronic Access:

http://www.rowman.com

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... McMinnville Public Library	823 Roald	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

For generations the elements of humor, poignancy, fantasy, and unfettered morality found within acclaimed children's author Roald Dahl's most famous tales have captivated both children and adults. Classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, and The BFG may initially appear to be yarns spun for the amusement of the adolescent mind, however, upon digging deeper one uncovers a treasure trove of philosophical richness that is anything but childish, but in fact reveals the true existential weight, and multi-layered meaning of some of our favorite children's stories. Editor Jacob M. Held has collected the insights of today's leading philosophers into the significances, messages, and greater truths at which Dahl's rhythmic writing winks, revealing a whole new way to appreciate the creation of a man and mind to which readers of all ages are still drawn.

Author Notes

Jacob M. Held is associate professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Central Arkansas. He is the editor of Dr. Seuss and Philosophy: Oh, the Thinks You Can-Think! (2011).

Reviews (1)

Publisher's Weekly Review

This collection of essays on the philosophical influences of author Roald Dahl's enduring children's books carries the benefits and drawbacks of such a multi-author effort. In his introduction, editor Held (Dr. Seuss and Philosophy: Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!) sufficiently lays out the central theme of these assorted and sometimes contrasting essays-that Dahl's characters rebel against the chaos of a world that does not provide for their needs. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the focus of the majority of selections. The philosophical arguments focusing on the character of Charlie Bucket and his family are more obvious and lackluster compared to the sections that examine the secondary characters, such as Augustus Gloop and Mike Teavee, through more specialized lenses. Elizabeth Butterfield's essay "Matilda, Existentialist Superhero" aptly connects Matilda to the philosophies of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. Likewise, editor Held's offers plenty of food for thought in his article, which convincingly applies John Locke's views on personal property to Fantastic Mr. Fox. Though many of Dahl's stories are addressed repeatedly, the general impression is far from redundant, but one of an invigorating roundtable discussion. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Jacob M. HeldBenjamin A. RiderJacob M. HeldElizabeth ButterfieldMatthew Bokma and Adam BarkmanTaine DuncanCam CobbMarc NapolitanoJohn V. KaravitisJoseph J. Foy and Timothy M. DaleJacob M. HeldRon NovyJanelle PötzschChad KleistGreg LittmannMiranda NellTanya Jeffcoat

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction: Roald Dahl and Absurdity: Children's Literature and the Divorce between the Mind That Desires and the World That Disappoints	p. 1
1 Epicurus and the Chocolate Factory	p. 7
2 On Getting Our Just Desserts: Willy Wonka, Immanuel Kant, and the Summum Bonum	p. 19
3 Matilda, Existentialist Superhero	p. 33
4 The Existential Journey of James Henry Trotter: Kierkegaard, Freedom, and Despair in James and the Giant Peach	p. 47
5 Of Mice and (Posthu)Man: Roald Dahl's The Witches and Ethics beyond Humanism	p. 59
6 "Who Is This Crazy Man?": Willy Wonka's Uneasy Predicament	p. 73
7 "He Will Be Altered Quite a Bit": Discipline and Punishment in Willy Wonka's Factory	p. 81
8 Matilda and the Philosophy of Education: or, What's an Education For?	p. 93
9 Shattering the Glass Elevator: Authenticity and Social Order in the Works of Roald Dahl	p. 107
10 The Fantastically Just Mr. Fox: Property and Distributive Justice According to Foxes and Other Diggers	p. 121
11 Willy Wonka and the Imperial Chocolate Factory	p. 137
12 George's Marvelous Medicine, or, What Should We Do about Global Hunger?	p. 149
13 Crodswoggle, Flushbunking, and All Things Friendship in The BFG	p. 161
14 Charlie and the Nightmare Factory: The Art of Children's Horror Fiction	p. 173
15 Brimful of Buzzburgers: A Human Bean's Wild Possibilities	p. 191
16 Dewey's Marvelous Medicine: Negative Capability and the Wonder of Roald Dahl	p. 205
Notes	p. 217
Index	p. 239
Twits, Witches, and Dirty Beasts: Author Biographies	p. 245

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Bound With These Titles

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Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (1)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Table of Contents