Describing child psychology and cognitive abilities in children through The Jungle Book

Author – Taznin Hussain, Dept of English and Foreign Languages,Tezpur University

taznin123@ gmail.com

Co - author- Ankana Saikia ,Dept of English and Foreign Languages,Tezpur University

ankanasaikia95@gmail.com

Abstract

In this paper, an analysis has been made to show the child psychology and cognitive abilities of
children through The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling. Children undergo some psychological
and cognitive development and so every stories is been perceived differently. John Locke
provided the concept of ‘tabula rasa’, which means children are blank slates and are waiting to
be filled. Piaget, influential psychologists studied the development of cognitive abilities in
children. Erikson showed that every human being undergoes a number of certain stages to gain
his/her full development. Kipling, at the outset of The Jungle Books shows the innocence of a
child in Mowgli’s brother. He writes, “Directly in front of him, holding on by a low branch,
stood a naked brown baby who could just walk ….”Erikson’s first stage of theory can be noticed
as he faces crisis of ‘trust and mistrust’. Colonization of India and its people has also been
shown. Mowgli clearly remarks “They be white and it is said that they govern all the
land…”Piaget’s theory of a child moving from ego-centricism to socio-centrism can also be
viewed. Kipling also showed the diasporic elements for which Mowgli was in an existential
crisis. Whether he is a Man or a Beast?

Key words-children’s literature, child psychology, cognitive abilities ,Piaget’s theory, Erikson’s
theory.