Children's Literature and World War I Trauma: The Reflection of (Post-War) British Society in A.A. Milne's 'Winnie the Pooh' and 'The House on Pooh Corner'

Abstract

A.A. Milne’s 'Winnie the Pooh' has influenced many childhood upbringings over the last century. Milne’s work indirectly teaches children in a light-hearted context how complex human behaviour can be. And although Milne has been identified as a World War I veteran, his literature rarely gets analysed within the field of literary trauma studies. This thesis will examine the impact of experiences of both the First World and post-war British society on the construction of A.A. Milne's 'Winnie the Pooh' and 'The House on Pooh Corner.' To determine whether the troubled veteran has left his mark on the Hundred Acre Woods.