Abstract
The typically youthful heroes of children's literature enable exploration of the genre's specifics. Its readers identify with similarly aged heroes, readily imagining themselves within the fictional world; thus the genre's ethical, pedagogical, aspect is organic. This paper traces the child-hero figure's literary evolution, identifying key characteristics: goodness, cunning, desire only to fulfil one's duty. Attention is paid to the Harry Potter series as educational works with ethically exemplary child-heroes who are seen to possess those same key traits while the novels otherwise evidence generic diversity and stylistic syncretism. Best seen as monomyth theory's "universal hero," Harry's character, though, evolves in new ways: an iteration of the child-hero that reflects contemporary culture.