Wyobraźnia akwatyczna dla dzieci lądu : zaczynając od "Wodnych dzieci" Charlesa Kingsleya

The rich symbolism of water may be found in Charles Kingley's novel for children Water Babies (1863). It is presented in turn as a spring, a stream, a river and the sea. The author derives his ideas from the Christian tradition, mythology and sailors' legends. Mother Carey - the female personification of the element - comes from English sailors' beliefs. In the novel the aquatic nether world is presented as the title "water babies" ' space. The underwater world is for them a purgatory as well as a shelter. Water represents here a symbol of purification, transformation, potentiality, fertility of nature and also vital powers.