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Childrens Literature Throughout the 1900s
Before the 1960s, children's literature was fantastical, sheltered and innocent, while in the 1960s it morphed into a reflection of reality and society’s current issues. -
The Golden Age - taken from "Views of Children's Literature Over Time" by Bette P. Goldstone
The Golden Age of Literature was a period of children's literature that reflected society view of childhood as special beings, innocent, and seperate from adults (Goldstone 17). The period started in the late 1800s and continued through the 1950s. Books, such as "Peter Pan," "The Wizard of Oz," and "The Chronicles of Narnia" were filled with child heros in a fantastical world. Adults were considered boring and seperate. -
Trends - Early 1900's
Childhood was much more protected, so explicit and unpleasant books were rare to find. Fear was replaced with fantasy with books like the chilling and haunting series of Green Knowe written by Lucy Boston. -
Trends of the 1900s
As technology advanced, books became higher in quality and started using pictures and children's literature became an important and highly respected industry. Modern fantasy was soon developed and explored more psychological, sociological and moral issues. -
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"
"Wonderful Wizard of Oz," written in 1900, is the first of an "Oz" series, by Lyman Frank Baum. It is often regarded as the “book that started it all” (Wright 1). The adventure of Dorothy in the land of Oz has been adapted into over fifty languages, a hollywood movie, and a broadway show. It is one of the first of the children's fantasy genre and the first of the 20th century. It is widely considered to be one of the founding works of the Golden Age. -
Rousseau - taken from "Views of Childhood in Children's Literature Over Time" by Bette P. Goldstone
Jean Jaques Rousseau's "Emile" was a change from society's perspective on children. In this book, Rousseau's message was that children "were special and came into the world in their own right" (Goldstone 14). Children were not empty vessels, but also not full of sinful behaviours. They had "their own special perception, one freed from adult prejudice and bias" (Goldstone 15).This caused the creation of the fantasy children's genre, a special world for children only. -
Cultural Influences
Originally, folk and fairy tales were not meant for children but became a base for the development of children's literature. Puritans wanted children's literature to provide children with religious and moral education. In James Janeway's book "A Token for Children: Being an Exact Account of the Conversion, Holy and Exemplary Lives and Joyful Deaths of Several Young Children," the story shows strong spirituality in kids, who are physically weak and dying. -
Cultural Influences
Most childrens books were usually inspired by a specific child or group of children, for example "Peter Pan" and "The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up". Fear was altered into fantasy because childhood became increasingly protected. "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" by John Foxe was very rare because of its graphic scenes, therefore childrens literature became more censorsed.
(Source: http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/024children.html) -
"Anne of Green Gables"
"Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Laud Montgomery is a novel about the life of Anne, an orphan taken by an elderly pair of siblings. Anne is a unique character who is appealing to girls as a role model. Burdened by loneliness and desperation, she feels neither happy or peaceful.
(Source: http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2012/07/07/how_anne_of_green_gables_came_to_be.html) -
Lyman Frank Baum
Born May 15, 1856, Chittenango
Died, May 6, 1919
Books: "Wonderful Wizard of Oz," including thirteen novel sequels, and nine other fantasy novels. He is considered one of the founders of the children's fantasy genre in the 1900s. -
Trends 1950's - 2000
The rise of multicultralism began near the 1950's until today and writers started to explore more controversial topics than the more conservative ages which lead to more non-fiction and fiction topics. -
C.S. Lewis
Born November 29 , 1898, Belfast
Died: November 22, 1963, Oxford
Education: Oxford
Books: "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" - published 1950, and the "Chronicles of Narnia" series. -
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Born February, 7, 1867, Pepin
Died February, 10, 1957, Mansfield
Developed her personal memoirs into several novel series. Known most for "Little House on the Praire," published 1932, which was made into a classic TV series. -
The 1960s - taken from "Views of Childhood in Children's Literature Over Time" by Bette P. Goldstone
In the 1960s, the Golden Age ended. The view of childhood changed, as children were now viewed as minature adults. The literature no longer sheltered children, but instead taught them about reality and social issues. Books contained deep and challenging material such as homosexuality in "Dance on My Grave." Child heroes no longer depend on others to survive. -
1960-1990s Cultural Influence
In the 1960s children's fantasy books continued to dominate, possibly because of the drug culture during that time. Between the 1970s and 1980s children's literature became more realistic. During the 1990s social realism was interpreted into children's literature. Parodies of traditional folk tales became a trend in the 1990s. Children's literature was becoming less literary and reflective and more dynamic. -
Katherine Paterson
Born: October 31, 1973, Qingjiang, China.
At the age of 80, she is still one of the most revered children's authors. She is most known for "Bridge to Terabithia," published 1977, which is about an imaginary world created by Jess and Leslie, called Terabithia, and the death of Leslie. Paterson has won both the Newberry Medal and the National Book Award twice. -
"Dance on My Grave"
This shocking novel was one of the first with stark homosexuality through its pages. Hal falls in love with another teenage boy, Barry. Their romance occurs amongst stressed parent relationships, bad decisions, impulsiveness, and struggles with other teenagers. The two boys’ curiosity and infatuate with death lead them to make a pact: whichever boy outlives the other has to dance on the other's grave.
Source: http://www.pankmagazine.com/pankblog/reviews/books-we-cant-quit-dance-on-my-grave-by-a -
"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone"
"Philosopher's Stone" has sold 110 million copies to date. It perfectly characterizes the new age of children's literature, containing moral and social issues. It appeals to both children and adults, starting a cross-over genre. Harry must conquer problems by himself. He is hated by his adopted parents, Hogwarts alienates him, and he must defeat Voldemort alone. Rowling also combines the real world with the fantastical.
Source: http://davidmohan.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/the-golden-age-of-childre
