Bambi: Understanding a Youth Literature Classic through its book covers

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Published: 07-12-2024

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Fernando Fraga de Azevedo
Universidade do Minho, Instituto de Educação Departamento de Estudos Integrados de Literacia, Didáctica e Supervisão
Portugal
No 11 (2024), Miscellany, pages 1-24
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15304/elos.11.9776
Submitted: 11-03-2024 Accepted: 04-11-2024 Published: 07-12-2024
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Abstract

This study analyzes the covers of Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten, focusing specifically on the original German edition and its English translations. It examines how the visual elements of these covers influence readers' expectations before engaging with the text. Utilizing a qualitative, observational, and interpretive approach, this study analyzes the evolution of cover designs over a period of nearly 100 years, from the 1923 German edition to contemporary English translations. This study investigates how these visual representations engage with themes such as ecological awareness, personal growth, and societal concerns, and how they reflect broader cultural and aesthetic shifts. Cover art styles, ranging from intricate realism to minimalist abstraction, were explored to understand their role in shaping the narrative’s interpretation. This analysis underscores Bambi's significance in children's and youth literature, its engagement with environmental and social discourse, and its universal relevance across various historical and cultural contexts.

Keywords:

Bambi, Félix Salten, Book Covers, Literary Analysis, Visual Analysis
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