Meaning of paracosm | Babel Free

Definitions

A detailed imaginary world, especially one created by a child.

Equivalents

Examples

“Imaginary playmates and paracosms may chiefly represent⟳ the vast creative potential of inherently talented people, but in less elaborated forms, they may also represent⟳ what childhood imagination can offer⟳ to the growing person. Humanity has already benefited from the paracosmic visions of Plato, Thomas More, Aldous Huxley, Thomas Hobbes, Arthur Tappan Wright^([sic – meaning Austin Tappan Wright]) (Islandia), and J. R. R. Tolkien.”

“Occasionally the fantasies of older childhood go well beyond the invention of a pretend⟳ friend. In fact, some children, typically at about 9 or 10 years of age, create⟳ "paracosms"—entire societies or worlds for the imaginary people to inhabit. [...] How common is it for children to create⟳ such elaborate fantasies, and what does the invention of a paracosm say⟳ about its creator?”

“As Emily [Brontë] turned in on herself for resources, she created a new paracosm, the Kingdom of Gondal, which she shared with Anne [Brontë]. The paracosm of Gondal became a way of life for the sisters; they shared its secrets for the rest⟳ of their lives.”

“One paracosm in their study⟳ was a country called Branmail consisting totally of cats — except for its creator, a six-year-old girl named Holly who had access to the world by scaling a height called Bumpety Banks.”

“The children created these inner worlds for a number⟳ of reasons, though each paracosm tends to be a long-lasting, heavily structured, and internally consistent.”

CEFR level