Microsoft Word final-current Developments at the Intersection of British Children-online-version doc

5.4.5
 
The fellowship 
Considering the trend towards an increasing absence of authority in current British 
fantasy novels for children, parents, the authority per se, fade even more into the background. 
At the same time, the gap they are leaving behind needs to be compensated for. As we have 
already seen, this only works to some extent as there is no true equivalent. People who come 
closest to family are guardians, friends, peers, companions and helpers. Whereas a guardian 
can be defined as a protector, defender or mentor, this term frequently implies the addendum 
“of a minor” or another person who cannot yet fend for himself. A friend is someone the child 
hero knows well, likes and is loyal to, independent of their age, origin, rank etc. By contrast, a 
peer distinguishes him- or herself by the fact that they are “equal in social standing, rank, age, 
etc.”,
222
especially in peer groups of children of the same age. Whereas a companion can be 
defined as an associate or a comrade, a helper is emotionally distanced and not as intimate as 
a friend, since his actions or skills and not his character stand in the foreground.
Without the support of a fellowship, “a society of people sharing mutual interests, 
experiences, activities, etc.”,
223
the child hero in fantasy would not succeed in his quest. His 
companions dispose of specific skills and qualities which they can place at the hero’s disposal 
as the need arises. By distributing several extraordinary skills among several people, hero and 
helpers become more credible; especially so if the fantasy hero is still a child, who is 
222
Collins Dictionary, p. 1144.
223
Ibd., p. 563.

---

182 
generally not considered capable of doing much.
224
Yet again it is Tolkien who provides the 
prime example for such a fellowship;
225
the famous Fellowship of the Ring. Instead of 
possessing all the necessary qualities himself, Frodo can rely on the support of his 
companions, their strength, their intelligence, their hope and their trust. Without them, both he 
and his quest would be lost. Also, a group or at least a pair of heroes permit the confrontation 
of good and bad traits outside of the body of just one hero. Frodo and Gollum or Ged and his 
shadow point out the unity of good and bad elements in everyone. As with Dr Jekyll and Mr 
Hyde, two persons can demonstrate the clashing polarisation more adequately than a single 
character.
Current British fantasy novels for children adapt the concept of the fellowship and 
mould it to their specific needs. Many of our corpus novels feature guardians, friends, peers, 
companions and helpers, without the help of whom the child hero would fail his or her quest. 
Just like Bilbo would never set out on his quest without his guardian and mentor Gandalf and 
the dwarves, Harry Potter would not be able to defeat Voldemort without the support of his 
guardians Dumbledore and Sirius Black, his peers Ron and Hermione and his numerous 
friends.
In our corpus novels we find a remarkable number of child heroes who appear in pairs, 
and who are still part of a fellowship. Here, specific skills are distributed on a duo, sometimes 
even a trio, which is then complemented by further skills provided by the fellowship-
members. In Pullman’s His Dark Materials, the heroes Lyra and Will are initially portrayed 
as two independent characters in their respective surroundings. Once they have found each 
other, they become a duo and can fall back on the talents of Lee Scoresby, the armoured bear, 
the Gyptians, the Gallivespians and the Lapland witches. Like a jigsaw puzzle, the various 
beings and their abilities are pieced together so as to form a heterogeneous, yet harmonious 
whole. In their very own way, each of them contributes precious characteristics that benefit 
the public interest, for example physical strength, intelligence, loyalty, a network of 
information, security and family structures. Like this, the motley fellowship, loosely 
connected via the main characters, become allies in Lyra’s and Will’s quest for the successful 
founding of the Republic of Heaven.
224
For example a child superhero capable of rescuing the world single-handedly would appear irreconcilable 
with the picture of weakness associated with a child.
225
This is not to say that Tolkien was the first author to invent a fellowship. Rather, he revived this ancient epic 
tradition and applied it to the post-Second-World-War fantasy genre. Therefore, Tolkien as well as C.S. Lewis 
for instance can be considered pioneers of a tradition of old in a new age.

---

183 
Another fantasy novel which features a hero duo is Nicholson’s The Wind on Fire 
trilogy
. Being twins, Kestrel and Bo are connected via a special tie. As soul mates, the 
siblings are highly receptive to the feelings and thoughts of the other. Nevertheless they have 
different characteristics, skills and interests, allowing them to complement each other. In the 
course of the trilogy, a fellowship forms around the twins that encourages and strengthens 
them so that they can fulfil their quest.
Kerr’s The Children of the Lamp is also a fantasy novel with twins as main characters. 
One day, Philippa and John are initiated into the secret of the existence of djinn and their own 
descent from them. From this moment onwards the child heroes are confronted with an 
entirely new culture, its heritage and conventions as well as special djinn powers that they 
now develop. On their quests, the twins are supported by their parents, their djinn uncle as 
well as other djinn, above all Mr Rakhshasas. Again, without the support of their companions 
and helpers, the heroes’ quests would be doomed to failure.
Stroud’s Bartimaeus trilogy introduces two heroes which could not be more different. 
Bartimaeus and Nathaniel, a djinn and a human magician, cooperate only grudgingly on the 
basis of a love-hate relationship. Whereas djinn and magician appear to have nothing in 
common at first, the course of the trilogy reveals that they resemble each other more than they 
really want. Both try to vie with one another in the size of their ego and consider themselves 
God’s gift to djinn- and mankind respectively. The two quarrellers are slowed down and 
counterweighted by the human girl Kitty, who complements the heroes forming a trio with 
them.
226
Her perspicacity, mellowness and rationalism oppose the frequently instinct-driven 
skirmishes of the two male characters. Even though the trio is supported by other djinn and 
magicians, no real fellowship is formed around the three individualists. Without any 
guardians, family or close friends, there are only a few helpers that cooperate just as 
reluctantly. Yet, in our corpus novels, such circumstances remain an exception.
By contrast, Foreman’s Keepers and Seekers series focuses on the fate of the Stone 
Keeper, who would not stand any chance against the powerful Seekers without the continuous 
support of the fellowship. The latter turns out to be a very special one as it is composed of 
various generations of Stone Keepers, for example Dougie and his warriors and Peter’s 
grandfather and his soldiers. Due to their respective experience and skills the fellowship can 
face almost any situation adequately and choose those Keepers who are the fittest for 
226
Another trio of main characters are Harry, Ron and Hermione in the Harry Potter novels. However, Harry is 
clearly the dominant hero, while Ron and Hermione have to accept less prestigious positions beside him.

---

184 
protecting the stone. As the fellowship comprises mainly family members and close friends of 
the guardians, the bond is very strong. One peculiarity is the fact that even though young 
Peter himself is the Guardian of the Stone, he is still supervised and guarded by a mentor. 
Another peculiarity is the diachronic composition of the fellowship, which expresses its 
unique, original and creative features.
In current British fantasy novels for children the heroes are part of a fellowship of 
variable size that gives them mental and physical support. At the same time, its members 
rectify an otherwise implausible and unconvincing accumulation of special skills and abilities 
by distributing them over several characters. This technique ensures a more lifelike, down-to-
earth portrait of the fantasy hero or the heroes.