Magiska möjligheter: Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl och Cirkeln i skolans värdegrundsarbete

Fantasy literature has the power to explore the real world in a magical guise. By creating magical realms where reality’s natural laws are challenged, subverted, and ultimately broken, this literary genre can help us to look at our own world in a new light. The thesis examines how the distancing perspective of fantasy literature makes this genre an ideal vehicle for discussing democracy, human rights, and multiculturalism in the classroom. The British Harry Potter series, the Irish Artemis Fowl series, and the Swedish Engelsfors Trilogy are analysed. In the first chapter, the thesis’ theoretical framework is presented. The second chapter, ‘Democracy’, explores two examples of the righteous rebellion of the young in the Harry Potter series and the Engelsfors Trilogy. In both cases, the adolescents rebel in order to defend democratic values and democratic rights, when they are threatened by corrupt adults and institutions. At the same time, the rebellions problematise the distribution of power according to age. The third chapter, ‘Human rights’, explores in depth one of the most important genre characteristics of fantasy literature—the existence of magic. Three young fantasy characters’ use of magical powers, for the purpose of challenging the restrictions that intersections impose on them, are investigated and related to questions concerning human rights. The fourth chapter, ‘Multiculturalism’, investigates two culture clashes found in fantasy literature: a body switch between five teenage witches in the Engelsfors trilogy, and a confrontation between the human world and the fairy world in the Artemis Fowl series. In both cases, questions are raised about how a confrontation with “the Other” can enrich our lives and help us realise what type of person we want to be. Thus, the possible gains of multiculturalism are highlighted. Finally, the fifth chapter, ‘Magical possibilities’, summarises the conclusions of the thesis and suggests some guidelines for how teachers can best work with fantasy literature in the classroom. Sedan den första Harry Potter-boken publicerades år 1997 har intresset för fantasylitteratur ökat lavinartat. Miljontals barn, ungdomar och vuxna har följt sina mest omtyckta fantasyhjältar och –hjältinnor på deras äventyr in i magiska världar, där verklighetens lagar utmanas, överskrids och ställs på ända. Men vad kan läsare lära sig om sin egen värld via karaktärernas upptäcksresor in i de magiska världarna? Och hur kan fantasylitteratur a