The Reimagination of Indigenous Mythologies and Folklore in Modern Young Adult Fantasy Fiction

Abstract

The paper presents the issue of how the literature of native mythology and folklore has been re-enacted in contemporary young adult fantasy literature. The combination of ancient tales and contemporary ones introduces the native cultural elements of these works, exploring the issues of identity, ancestry, and belonging to the environment. The themes the study is interested in are conflict, resilience, and integration of fantasy and realism, and how these stories are applicable to the contemporary reader, and how they can be culturally authentic. The paper discusses the tools of telling used by authors to make Indigenous myths fit their own narratives, using the case studies of such remarkable works as The Marrow Thieves and The Girl Who Drank the Moon, which have to confront the challenge and the possibilities of adaptation. The findings reveal that the works are crucial in changing the cultural representation and give an insight into how the young adult fiction can be utilized to educate the readers about the native cultures. The paper also touches upon the ethical issues of the re-invention of indigenous folklore, with references to the role of the authors in the respectful attitude towards the cultural traditions. Lastly, the study recommends that future studies should be done on the influence of these reimagining on young readers and that more variety in the indigenous cultures explored in future works should be studied.