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Bridge to Terabithia

by Katherine Paterson

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Student Question

What does Terabithia symbolize for Jess and Leslie in Bridge to Terabithia?

Quick answer:

Terabithia symbolizes a magical refuge for Jess and Leslie where they can freely express their dreams and confront their inner pain. It represents a space of honesty and imagination, contrasting with the constraints of their real lives. In Terabithia, they can pursue their true desires without external pressures, making it a place of personal empowerment and emotional freedom.

Expert Answers

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For Jess and Leslie, Terabithia is a secret and magical place where they can express their dreams and expose their inner pain. It is a place where they can achieve their own hearts' desires without being at the command of imposed goals reflecting others' desires for them. Terabithia is a honest place that is enlivened with the magic their real lives lack.

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