Children's literature: a comparative study
Proposed to be offered next in 1998
I Breuer
8 points
* 2 hours per week
* First semester
* Peninsula
Objectives On the successful completion of this subject students should have gained familiarity with a range of genres of contemporary children's books; an understanding of the cultural constructedness of the child reader and of childhood; and a grasp of the relevant theoretical approaches.
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 second year Seminar paper (1200-1500 words) and participation
30%
* Short essay (1500 words) 30%
* Long essay (2500-3000 words) 40%
Assessment third year Seminar paper (1200-1500 words) and participation:
30%
* Short essay (1500 words) 30%
* Long essay (2500-3000 words): 40%
* Third-year students will be required to demonstrate wider reading, deeper
conceptual understanding and a greater analytical grasp of the subject.
Prescribed texts
Burningham J Come away from the water, Shirley Harper Collins
Cormier R The chocolate war Lions
Dahl R The BFG Puffin
Doherty B Dear nobody Lions
Heide F P The shrinking of Treehorn Puffin
Klein R Hating Alison Ashley Puffin
Marchetta M Looking for Alibrandi 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
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