Tracking Animal Traces: The Role of Animals in Selections of Children’s Poetry by Ahmad Shawqy and Ted Hughes

Abstract

This is a crossover research where two poetic voices are brought into close relation with one another on the one hand, and with both realms of child development and ecology on the other. It aims at examining the effect of children’s interactions with the poetic animals they meet on the course of their development. Throughout the conducted research, it is evident that engagement with poetic animals ‒real and imaginary‒ is linked to all aspects of development. Tracking animals in the area of children’s poetry, with the aim of gaining a proper understanding of their potential impact, requires a crossing of the boundaries separating these three constituent strands: animals, children, and literature. Human-animal studies which emerged in the late 1990s fills this interdisciplinary niche as it addresses the multidimensional relationships between humans and other animals. This can be seen in the research conducted around the human-animal bond, the emergence of trans-species psychology, and the trending of critical animal studies. The medium of poetry is particularly chosen as the focus of the study for it has the power to seep into the child’s subconscious. Poetry is regarded as a natural language of children; since they tend to delight in rhyme, rhythm, and other elements of musicality. On top of that, poetry speaks directly to their active imagination. Because of its ability to summon up animal images via metaphors, poetry is believed to be a literary gateway into the world of animals. It is the common ground where both humans and animals can meet halfway; allowing children to be addressed by the gaze of an animal. This research is thus concerned with how children’s poetry presents animals and what sensations it carries into the mindset of the child.