Children's Literature Analysis of Hector Term Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 1082 words ( 4 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 2

Page 1 of 4

All of these factors show that a young boy in the country and from a working class background stereotypically likes to hunt and fish.

In Moke and Poki Build a House, the main characters are the two friends, Moke and Poki. Moke and Poki are Menehunes, a group of legendary little people who live in the rainforests of Hawaii. Though they are fictional, Moke and Poki show many traits that are associated with native people from Hawaii or otherwise. Both characters are male, though it is difficult to tell if they are adults or children. There are no parental figures and no females. Moke and Poki's friends are all animals and none of them are described using female or male pronouns. Instead they are simply called Crayfish, Nene-goose, Dog, and Cricket (Funai, 1972).

Moke and poki are portrayed in the illustration as having darker skin and, because they are in Hawaii and use Hawaiian words, are easily associated with Polynesian people. The first thing we learn is that they live in a bush, though Moke wants to live in a house. They look for a house but cannot find one. This perhaps suggests that, as native people, they are primitive and also far-removed from society or the real world (although this is probably not intentional on the author's part). Though they are the main characters and the only human-like characters, Moke and Poki are not in charge of the animals; after helping them build the house, all of the animals claim that they own it, too. This, too, can be attributed to the stereotype that native cultures or tribal cultures worship animals or have different relationships or respect for them (Funai, 1972).

Stuck Writing Your "Children's Literature Analysis of Hector" Term Paper?

View All Our Example Children's Literature Analysis of Hector Term Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written



In both stories we see main characters that exhibit some roles that are unusual. Yet, in Hector Goes Fishing all of the other characters are aware -- and sometimes even point out -- that Hector is acting differently that most people like him would (Hallowell, 1958). In Moke and Poki build a House, the relationships and actions of the characters and their interactions come over as regular. Only in one section does Poki tell Moke he is "silly" for not wanting to live in a bush any more (Funai, 1972, 6). Still, Moke and Poki are showing stereotypical native culture actions in their "regular" behavior, while Hector shows what "regular" boys are supposed to do by not doing it (Hallowell, 1958). As far as socioeconomic status, the characters from both stories are shown as living by small means. As has been discussed, Hector's family is most likely working class. The Menehunes, Moke and Poki, live in a bush; even the house that they build is not built well and collapses, showing that they also have little skill in that area (Funai, 1972). Hector displays the same lack of knowledge when he calls the fish's scales "shingles" (Hallowell, 1958, 18).

From these clues, the reader can see many examples of gender, race (including species and relation to animals), and socioeconomic class / background from Hector Goes Fishing and Moke and Poki in the Rain Forest......

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Children's Literature Analysis Of Hector" (2006, December 03) Retrieved April 29, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/children-literature-analysis-hector-41271

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Children's Literature Analysis Of Hector" 03 December 2006. Web.29 April. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/children-literature-analysis-hector-41271>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Children's Literature Analysis Of Hector", 03 December 2006, Accessed.29 April. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/children-literature-analysis-hector-41271
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example