This paper deals with the characteristics and properties of children's poetry, especially in distinction to adult poetry. The idea to work out this topic arose in a lecture in which the question was raised whether the poem "Es führt dich meilenweit von dannen" by Friedrich Schiller, taken from a book of poems for children, was actually a children's poem. In this work, it should become clear which characteristics indicate that a poem belongs to children's poetry, or is suitable for children. At the beginning of the paper, I define the concept of poetry, especially children's poetry. I briefly discuss how difficult it is to find characteristic features that describe only children's poetry and explain why children's poetry is nevertheless a separate area of lyric poetry.
I give an overview of structures and elements frequently used in children's poetry in Chapter 2, and sample poems for individual characteristics are included in the appendix. In chapter 3 I explain the difference between children's and adult poetry. For this purpose, I compare a children's poem and an adult poem. In chapter 4, I deal specifically with the child reader and describe which factors, in addition to the structure of the text, play a role so that a child understands the content of a poem. In particular, I describe the problems that children have in reading the above poem "Es führt dich meilenweit von dannen".
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Children's poetry
- Lyrics
- Definitions of terms Children's poetry
- How do you recognize children's poetry?
- Children's poetry as an independent genre of poetry
- Elements and structures of children's poetry
- Boundaries between children's and adult poetry
- Investigation of the poem "Es Führt dich meilenweit von dannen" by Friedrich Schiller
Objectives and Key Themes
This work aims to define and characterize children's poetry, differentiating it from adult poetry. It explores the challenges in establishing a clear-cut definition for children's poetry, considering various perspectives and definitions from existing literature. The analysis investigates structural and stylistic elements frequently employed in children's poetry and compares these to adult poetry to highlight key distinctions. Finally, it examines the specific considerations necessary for a child to comprehend a poem, using Friedrich Schiller's poem "Es führt dich meilenweit von dannen" as a case study.
- Defining children's poetry and its differentiation from adult poetry.
- Identifying structural and stylistic elements common in children's poetry.
- Analyzing the challenges in creating a universally applicable definition for children's poetry.
- Exploring the factors influencing a child's comprehension of poetry.
- Examining a specific poem ("Es führt dich meilenweit von dannen") to illustrate these concepts.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the entire work by outlining its main objective: to investigate the characteristics of children's poetry and how it differs from adult poetry. The author's motivation stems from a lecture discussion questioning whether Schiller's poem "Es führt dich meilenweit von dannen" qualifies as children's poetry. The introduction previews the structure of the work, outlining the planned exploration of definitions, structural elements, and comparative analysis between children's and adult poetry. It highlights the inherent difficulty in defining children's poetry, setting the expectation that the work will offer insights into this complex topic rather than a definitive answer.
Children's poetry: This chapter delves into the fundamental question of what constitutes children's poetry. It begins by establishing the genre of poetry within the broader context of literary genres (epic, drama, lyric). The chapter then critically examines existing definitions of children's poetry from various sources, revealing inconsistencies and limitations. It explores the challenge of identifying universal characteristics, arguing that factors like sound, rhyme, rhythm, and playfulness, while prevalent, aren't exclusive to children's poetry. The chapter concludes by asserting that children's poetry, despite lacking definitive characteristics, forms an independent genre distinct from adult poetry due primarily to its lower degree of abstraction and its consideration of the child reader in substance, style, form, intention, and level of abstraction. Multiple factors, rather than a single element, determine whether a poem belongs to this genre.
Elements and structures of children's poetry: While a detailed description of this chapter is not provided in the source text, based on the introduction, this section would likely present a detailed analysis of the common structural and stylistic elements found in children's poetry. This would include discussions on rhyme schemes, rhythm patterns, and common themes prevalent in poems intended for children. The analysis would likely draw upon examples to illustrate how these elements contribute to the overall appeal and accessibility of children's poems.
Boundaries between children's and adult poetry: This chapter focuses on a direct comparison between children's and adult poetry, showcasing the distinguishing features that define each. It likely employs detailed textual analysis of exemplary poems, one from each genre, demonstrating differences in language, imagery, thematic concerns, and overall stylistic approach. The analysis would illuminate the nuanced characteristics that differentiate the two, possibly focusing on the concepts of abstraction, complexity, and target audience, reinforcing the earlier arguments regarding the unique qualities of children's poetry.
Keywords
Children's poetry, adult poetry, genre definition, structural elements, stylistic features, rhyme, rhythm, child reader, comprehension, literary analysis, Friedrich Schiller, "Es führt dich meilenweit von dannen".
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this language preview?
This preview provides a comprehensive overview of a work analyzing children's poetry. It examines how children's poetry differs from adult poetry, focusing on definitions, structural elements, and the challenges of creating a universally accepted definition for the genre. A specific poem by Friedrich Schiller, "Es führt dich meilenweit von dannen," is used as a case study.
What are the key themes explored in the language preview?
The key themes include defining and differentiating children's poetry from adult poetry, identifying common structural and stylistic elements in children's poetry, analyzing the challenges in defining the genre, exploring factors affecting children's comprehension of poetry, and using a specific poem to illustrate these concepts.
What does the Table of Contents include?
The table of contents covers an introduction, a section dedicated to children's poetry (including lyrics, definitions, recognition, and its status as an independent genre), elements and structures of children's poetry, the boundaries between children's and adult poetry, and a detailed investigation of Friedrich Schiller's poem "Es führt dich meilenweit von dannen."
What are the chapter summaries?
The introduction sets the stage and outlines the work's objective. The chapter on children's poetry explores various definitions and argues for its status as a distinct genre. The chapter on elements and structures likely details common structural and stylistic elements in children's poetry (specific details are not provided in the summary). The chapter on boundaries compares children's and adult poetry, highlighting their differences in language, imagery, and thematic concerns.
What are the objectives of this work?
The main objective is to define and characterize children's poetry, differentiating it from adult poetry. This includes exploring the challenges of creating a universally applicable definition, analyzing structural and stylistic elements, and examining the factors affecting a child's comprehension of poetry.
What keywords are associated with this language preview?
Keywords include children's poetry, adult poetry, genre definition, structural elements, stylistic features, rhyme, rhythm, child reader, comprehension, literary analysis, Friedrich Schiller, and "Es führt dich meilenweit von dannen."
What is the purpose of analyzing Friedrich Schiller's poem "Es führt dich meilenweit von dannen"?
This poem serves as a case study to illustrate the concepts discussed throughout the work. It helps to demonstrate the complexities involved in classifying a poem as belonging to the children's poetry genre.
How does this work define children's poetry?
The work argues that children's poetry, while lacking definitive characteristics, is a distinct genre from adult poetry. It emphasizes the importance of considering the child reader in terms of substance, style, form, intention, and level of abstraction. Multiple factors contribute to a poem's classification within this genre.
What are the challenges in defining children's poetry?
The work highlights the inherent difficulty in establishing a clear-cut definition for children's poetry due to inconsistencies and limitations in existing definitions. Elements like sound, rhyme, rhythm, and playfulness, though common, aren't exclusive to children's poetry.
What is the difference between children's and adult poetry according to this preview?
The preview suggests key differences lie in language, imagery, thematic concerns, and overall stylistic approach. Children's poetry tends to have a lower degree of abstraction and considers the child reader more directly in its creation.
- Quote paper
- Mareike Duensing (Author), 2004, Children's poetry. Features and differences from adult poetry, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1170847
