Cite This Page To Go The Golden Compass The Golden Compass by
Philip Pullman group rates for schools and districts  The Golden
Compass Theme of Innocence  Loss of innocence is a dominant
theme in literature, from the epic fall of mankind into sin in
Milton's Paradise Lost to a young child's first experience with
death in children's books like Bridge to Terabithia. Philip
Pullman's The Golden Compass deals with the loss of innocence a
bit differently from many other books. Here, the loss of
innocence is not necessarily such a bad thing. Experience – the
opposite of innocence – is presented as just as valuable and
necessary. This might sound like small potatoes, but the shift
in perspective has big-time consequences for the book,
especially when Lyra decides that "Dust" might not be so sinful
after all. (Read all about that juicy and controversial topic in
"Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory: Dust (and Original Sin).")
Questions About Innocence    1. Does Lyra lose her innocence at
some point in The Golden Compass?