The discourses of Michael Dorris and Louise Erdrich's juvenile fiction

Abstract

O presente trabalho propõe-se analisar a abordagem de culturas de povos autóctones da América, nas obras de ficção juvenil de Michael Dorris, Morning Girl (1992), Guests (1994) e Sees Behind Trees (1996) e, de Louise Erdrich, The Birchbark House (1999) e The Game of Silence (2005), em particular a questão da mudança cultural e como esta pode ser sentida e articulada pela voz de jovens adolescentes. Assim, esta análise proporciona uma perspectiva da ficção juvenil enquanto veículo de construção de respeito pela diversidade cultural.

ABSTRACT: This dissertation aims to analyse the works of juvenile fiction written by Michael Dorris, Morning Girl (1992), Guests (1994) and Sees Behind Trees (1996), and by Louise Erdrich, The Birchbark House (1999) and The Game of Silence (2005), in terms of their approach to Native American cultures, particularly the issue of cultural change and how this might be experienced and articulated by young adolescent voices. The analysis thus provides a perspective on juvenile fiction as a means of encouraging respect for cultural diversity.