THE CONFIGURATION OF MORAL VALUES IN ELEANOR PORTER’S POLLYANNA AND ASTRID LINDGREN’S PIPPI LONGSTOCKING

Abstract

The Configuration of Moral Values in Eleanor Porter’s Pollyanna and Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking. This article proposes a comparative analysis of two influential figures in children’s literature, assessing how their distinct cultures of origin (American and Swedish, respectively) influenced the creation of two canonical female protagonists. This article aims to explore the intersection between normative modes of social conduct and the development of character agency in children’s literature, appraising some of the ways in which gender, religion, geographic and literary contexts function as vehicles for various sets of moral values transmission. The analysis highlights that despite different geo-temporal contexts, the authors use a similar subversive technique as a literary strategy to convey moral messages, the sideways glance and optimism. Although Pollyanna’s Glad Game and Pippi’s imagination differ in terms of practice and how they cope with reality, they find common ground in their shared axiology or view of the world. While the two works belong to distinct literary traditions and span different geographical and temporal contexts, their shared portrayal of courageous, autonomous, capable young women, who employ similar coping strategies reveals a broader, transcultural demand regarding female representation in children’s literature.

Article history: Received 30 March 2026; Revised 31 July 2026; Accepted 13 August 2026; Available online 30 September 2026; Available print 30 September 2026.