What Makes a Classic? Daemons and Dual Audience in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials

Abstract

Scholars have spent a fair amount of time exploring Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, educating us on its weighty literary inspirations and why it is an important work of fiction. Explaining the necessity and appeal of daemons in the trilogy (which are probably the most fascinating aspect of the books for readers) has proved a more daunting task. Getting a good handle on daemons is like trying to grasp a child's daemon as its form continually morphs. In her article Susan R. Bobby pins down daemons for us, fixing them in a fresh light for us to observe.