ENH2991

Children's literature: a comparative study

Proposed to be offered next in 1999

H Scutter

8 points
* 2 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton

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 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 (1500 words) and participation: 30%
* Long essay (2500 words): 40%
* Class test (2000 words): 30%

Prescribed texts

Babbit N Tuck everlasting Farrar Strauss Giroux
Bawden N Carrie's war Puffin
Burningham J Come away from the water, Shirley Harper Collins
Cormier R The chocolate war Collins
Heide F P The shrinking of Treehorn Puffin
Mahy M The catalogue of the universe 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
Townsend S The secret diary of Adrian Mole Puffin
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
Wilder L I Little house on the prairie Puffin
Winton T The Bugalugs bum thief Puffin

Recommended texts

Hunt P Criticism, theory and children's literature Blackwell
Niall B Australia through the looking glass MUP
Stephens J Language and ideology in children's fiction Longman