SLIKA OBITELJI U KNJIŽEVNOJ TRILOGIJI ZLATNI DANCI JAGODE TRUHELKE

With an insight into the theoretical determinants of the children’s novel and the theme of the family in the Croatian children’s novel, the paper presents the importance and role of the family in the literary trilogy Golden Days (Zlatni danci), written by one of the founders of Croatian children’s realistic prose, Jagoda Truhelka. The aim of the paper is through analysis of the available scientific sources and literary texts to present the literary motifs present in describing the image of the family in the literary trilogy Golden Days (Zlatni danci). Jagoda Truhelka introduces readers to her idyllic childhood, which is characterized by family harmony, the Christian spirit in raising children, patriotism and the interdependence of children and parents. These are the values on which, as constituent components, the analysis of the image of the family in Truhelka’s children’s novels, presented in the paper, is based. The literary trilogy Golden Days (Zlatni danci) depicts a tightly structured, homogeneous family in which the father-teacher played a major role. Religious principles were a guide in the upbringing of children, based on Christian principles also present in the descriptions of religious holidays and customs. Nurturing patriotism is evident in everyday storytelling and children’s games, with the father once again being the one who played the most important role in it. Child and parental interdependence are present in the constant care of family members for each other, especially in moments of children getting into trouble in situations where parents were not present. Growing up in Jagoda Truhelka’s family was happy because it gave the children what every child deserves: love, attention, feelings of security, belonging, tenderness and respect. The image of such a family, presented in the literary trilogy Golden Days (Zlatni danci), certainly still contributes to the upbringing of today’s children.