The Golden Compass Literary Analysis

Throughout The Golden Compass, the topic of fantasy is explored and applied to the storyline directly. From talking polar bears to bizarre personal companions, this novel certainly emphasizes the imaginative aspect of literature. The Golden Compass, written by Philip Pullman, is one of three books in the series titled His Dark Materials which exemplifies the nature of the fantasy genre by detailing completely absurd and surreal events (Pullman 2-198). In The Golden Compass, the protagonist, Lyra, and her daemon go on an exhilarating adventure from their home in Oxford looking for answers. Along the way, they encounter and interact with a variety of characters. These characters come to mold the plot of the novel and have a significant effect on the storyline. Not only do the characters affect the storyline, but they also gravely add to the fantastical aspect of the novel by being fundamentally involved in the absurd events that dictate the novel 's plot ("The Golden Compass."). To further evaluate the plot, the influential characters must be analyzed on their own. The two main characters in this novel are …show more content…
The Golden Compass ' message is striking because of its anti-religious and atheist aspect. The fact that Pullman chose this to be the message immersed in the storyline is significant because it allowed readers to realize that they have a voice and can speak their minds. This gives more relevance to Pullman 's writing because not only did he have a superb aptitude for words, but also for inspiring readers to have an opinion of their own on the affairs of the world. The Golden Compass is much more than just a work of literature. Implicit in its nature is an inquisitiveness and explorative attitude on life, which is most clearly seen in the way that authority and organized religion are questioned continually ("His Dark