Formative Influences: Children's Fantasy Narratives (6 points)
(ARTS)
Leader: Heather Scutter
Offered:
Not offered in 2004.
Synopsis:
Objectives: It is intended that students undertaking this course should develop: 1. An understanding of the historical association between oral narratives and children's literature. 2. A critical understanding of the historicity of versions of oral narrative, based on a study of cultural variants. 3. A critical understanding of such major paradigms of fantasy literature as the primary and secondary worlds, the male heroic quest and female quest variants; of such archetypes as the shadow and the divine child; and of such notions as high and low fantasy, the beast fable and speculative fantasy. 4. A critical understanding of major psychoanalytic interpretations of myths, legendary and fairy tale material, and the connections of such interpretations with psychologies and discourses of childhood. 5. Knowledge and an understanding of the ways in which fantasy literature rewrites mythic and legendary material, and appropriates this material for a child audience. 6. Knowledge and an understanding of the ideological implications of such rewritingthe capacity to meet the general learning objectives of the department.
Assessment: Essay (2250 words): 50% + Test (2250 words): 50%
Contact Hours: 2.5 hours (1 lecture and 1 seminar) per week
Prerequisites: A first-year sequence in English, Literary Studies or Cultural Studies or permission.
Prohibitions: ENH3990
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