Authors

Katarzyna Jakubowska-Krawczyk¹;  ¹ University of Warsaw, Poland

Discussion

This presentation analyzes the significance of contemporary children's literature in shaping the perception of national identity, self-concept, and resilience in the face of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The selected texts, authored post-February 2022, include Taiemni istorii malenʹkykh i velykykh peremoh by Tanya Stus, Moi vymusheni kanikuly by Kateryna Yehorushkina, Zhovtyi metelyk by Oleksandr Shatokhin, Kozhna hrudochka zemli by Olha Voitenko and Sofiia Tomilenko, Abetka viiny by Yevhen Stepanenko, and Tse tykha nich, mii astronaute by Oksana Lushchevska, among others. These works are examined as case studies to understand how literature for young readers represents and reinforces a collective Ukrainian identity during a period of national crisis. Applying an interdisciplinary framework that integrates socio-political, historical, cultural, and literary perspectives, the presentation seeks to explore how these texts contribute to the construction of an “imagined political community,” a concept outlined by Benedict Anderson. Central to the analysis are the narrative strategies employed by these authors to reflect and instill a sense of national heritage through references to Ukrainian symbols, historical events, cultural customs, and the complexities of contemporary culture. Key thematic areas of focus include the portrayal of internal displacement and refugee experiences, particularly as they pertain to child protagonists. The analysis will investigate how these narratives depict the evolving self-identity of young characters, underscoring resilience, adaptation, and the preservation of cultural identity amidst adversity. This examination aims to elucidate the role of children's literature not only in addressing immediate emotional needs but also in shaping enduring perceptions of nationality and community in young readers during times of conflict.