Children's literature: a comparative study
H Scutter
8 points * 2 hours per week * Second semester * Clayton
A study of contemporary literature for children by major Australian, American and British writers. The subject explores a range of modes, including humour, fantasy, picture story books, realistic and historical novels. Specific issues examined include the construction of national identity, cultural variations in thematic and formal emphasis, changing notions of childhood and the child figure, and the notion of the implied child/adolescent reader. Students will be encouraged to consider the ideological implications of the adult interests vested in the production of texts for children.
Assessment
Seminar presentation and participation: 20% * Short essay (1500 words): 30% * Long essay (2500 words): 50%
Prescribed texts
Burningham J Come away from the water, Shirley Harper Collins
Cormier R The chocolate war Collins
Doherty B Dear nobody Collins
Heide F P The shrinking of Treehorn Puffin
Klein R Hating Alison Ashley Puffin
Mahy M The catalogue of the universe Methuen
Mark J Handles Puffin
Park R Playing Beatie Bow Puffin
Paterson K Bridge to Terabithia Puffin
Pearce P Tom's midnight garden Puffin
Rubinstein G Beyond the labyrinth Omnibus
Sendak M Where the wild things are Harper/Collins
Wagner J The bunyip of Berkeley's Creek Puffin
Walsh J P A parcel of patterns Puffin
Westall R The machine-gunners Puffin
Wheatley N The blooding Puffin
White E B Charlotte's web Puffin
Wilder L I Little house on the prairie Puffin
Recommended texts
Hunt P Criticism, theory and children's literature Blackwell
Meek M (ed.) The cool web Bodley Head
Niall B Australia through the looking glass MUP
Stephens J Language and ideology in children's fiction Longman
Townsend J R Written for children Penguin