Rascals, Enemies, and Others... The Image of Trickster in Soviet and Post-soviet Children’s Literature

Abstract

Mark Lipovetsky analyses the figure of a trickster in Soviet and post-Soviet children’s literature. The discussion is organized around the functions of tricksters in Soviet culture in general, as well as their place occupied by this trope in children’s literature. The author draws a direct comparison between the functions of this trope in adult literature that parallels with characters in the literature for the young. This examination extends to the post-Soviet children’s narratives and defines traditional, as well as innovative approaches, in order to discuss these characters in contemporary texts.   Keywords: trickster, trope, functions of a trickster, mediator, hyper identification, cynicism, tricksters’ pedagogy