MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS

Arts Undergraduate Handbook 1996

Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996

ENH2992

Children's literature: a comparative study

I L O'Loughlin

Synopsis 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 ideas 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 paper (1200-1500 words) and participation 30% + short essay (1500 words) 30% + long essay (2500-3000 words) 40%

Prescribed texts

• Burningham J Come away from the water, Shirley Harper Collins
• Cormier R The chocolate war Lions
• Doherty B Dear nobody Lions
• Heide F P The shrinking of Treehorn Puffin
• Klein R Hating Alison Ashley Puffin
• Macdonald C Speaking to Miranda Puffin
• 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 Puffin
• 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 and others 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