The Pedagogic Role of Children’s Literature Walter Benjamin’s Theory in Modern Education

Abstract

This article focuses on the theory of German philosopher and literature critic Walter Benjamin (1892-1940) on the role of children’s literature and the degree by which his aesthetical theory, as expressed in the early 20th century, may be applied in modern education. Particularly in preschool ages, children’s literature plays a defining role in children’s development, stimulating learning memory and providing the foundations for the child’s perception of the world around him/her. Children’s literature and illustrations of children’s books, introduce children in learning and writing. In his theory, Benjamin describes how literature, and in particular the magic perceived by children’s mentality in fairytale, can and should be an integral part of education that does not apply standardized pedagogic norms or psychological interpretations, but promotes the way in which the child observes the world, imagination and intuitive perception.