IMAGERY OF THE NOVEL “RAILWAY CHILDREN” BY EDITH NESBIT

Abstract

In her novel Edith Nesbit depicts a number of bright characters which require a thorough attention of researchers.The goal of the article is to reveal imagery of the main characters in the novel “The Railway Children” by Edith Nesbit.The methodology of the article is represented by various scientific methods, in particular: empirical methods (comparison and observation), empirical and theoretical methods (abstraction, analysis, synthesis, and logical approach) and theoretical methods (generalizing and partial ones).The works of art by Edith Nesbit have become the object of various scientists, however absence of characters’ imaginary characteristic in the novel “The Railway Children” directs us to a thorough analysis of this aspect in the work, that constitutes the scientific novelty of the article.In the center of our reserch there are images of three children, who learn how to survive in their new reality, which is quite unusual for cherished urban children. Meeting various obstacles, two sisters and their brother make up many ways to cope with them without disturbing their mother. The novel is not only about everyday life of the children in the counrtyside, but also about formation of their personalities with the necessity to adopt complicated decisions and do it very quickly. Apart from the family line the writer described difficult and unambiguous social themes: emprisonment after slander, hard living conditions of prisoners, fair job payment of workers, medical services high prices, and elderly people loneliness.Though the novel is considered to be a piece of writing for children, however it contains a number of issues which can lead even adults to a dead end. The writer used numerous stylistic means in the description of the characters.Reading the novel, we can easily imagine not only the children’s appearances but also characters of them and their adult friends. A special peculiarity is the children’s unique ability to make friends with former enemies. It happened to the elderly lady who gave them her biggest treasure (her deceased daughter’s preambulator), to the bargee, whose child and dog were saved by them, to the station master, who wanted to bring them to police at their first meeting.Conclusions. Thus, well thought out images of the novel “The Railway Children”, feeling of being engaged in the plot and important social societal issues raised in the novel prove a high artistic value of the work and vividly reveal the author’s mastery.