CHILDREN S LITERATURE

This history of children’s literary narrative begins with the observation that the stories read and heard by children exercise immeasurable imaginative power. Socially, ethically, culturally, psychologically, even politically, much of who we are as adults –what makes us cry and what makes us laugh-- began in the first stories that absorbed us and gave us so much pleasure. Beginning with fairytales and folktales from across the globe, we will explore coming-of-age stories, domestic fiction designed to educate girls, adventure romance marketed to boys (and to men who thought of themselves as boys) and fantasy. We will look at how children’s literature explores questions of heroism, gender difference, disability, perspective, community, and resilience. We will consider narrative strategies such as setting, voice, and plot as well as the role of historical context, illustration and media adaptation. While our discussions will focus on fictional primary sources, we will also consider scholarship that helps see this material through a variety of theoretical perspectives. Readings may include fairytale selections from Europe, Asia, and Africa; Alcott’s Little Women and its American afterlife in Gerwig’s film; Stevenson’s Treasure Island and pirate narrative; Collodi’s and Disney’s Pinocchio; Taylor’s Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and quest romance; Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone; and a selection of illustrated picture books.