Attitudes towards the child in children's literature: A Comparison of the Victorian Age and the Inter-War Period

Dossier / Travail , 2008 , 10 Pages , Note: 1,7

Philologie Anglaise - Littérature

Prior to the eighteenth and nineteenth century, childhood was not considered a separate stage of development. People at that time rather thought of children as miniature adults without a legal status. Due to new upcoming theories of philosophers such as John Locke or Jean-Jacques Rousseau however, children were seen in a new light. Thus, from the late eighteenth century onwards, parents slowly began to look at their children as individuals with concerns, wishes and fears much different from the adult. This new perception of childhood initiated authors to write literature both for and about children, which ultimately led to a new literal genre that we nowadays take for granted: children's literature.
The following essay will compare the attitudes towards the child in children's literature of the Victorian Age with the attitude portrayed in inter-war children's literature. It will explore how the perception of the child in the nineteenth century changed, how this change is reflected in the fiction of the time and how it affected the children's literature of the inter-war period. It will argue that whereas early children's literature was mostly didactic and addressing the adult rather than the child reader, novels of the middle and late nineteenth century concentrated more on young readers and their specific needs and desires by introducing a more entertaining and fabulous style of writing. The essay will then take a closer look at children's literature of the early twentieth century and demonstrate that fiction of that period continued to put the child in the focus of attention while at the same time dealing with new topics and offering ways of escapism with respect to the threat of the Second World War.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Attitudes towards the child in children's literature: A Comparison of the Victorian Age and the Inter-War Period
• The Victorian Age
• The Evangelical School of Thought
• John Locke
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• The Inter-War Period
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This term paper aims to compare the attitudes towards the child in children's literature of the Victorian Age with the attitude portrayed in inter-war children's literature. It will explore how the perception of the child in the nineteenth century changed, how this change is reflected in the fiction of the time and how it affected the children's literature of the inter-war period.

• The development of the child as a separate entity from the adult
• The shift from didactic to entertaining children's literature
• The influence of philosophical and educational theories on children's literature
• The impact of the Second World War on children's literature
• The role of fantasy and escapism in children's literature

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The essay begins by examining the historical context of children's literature, tracing its origins back to the mid-eighteenth century when influential thinkers began to question the concept of the child as a miniature adult. It then delves into the Victorian Age, exploring the dominant attitudes towards children during this period, particularly the influence of the Evangelical School of Thought and John Locke's educational philosophy. The essay highlights the didactic nature of early children's literature, which was primarily designed to socialize and moralize children. The author analyzes Mary Martha Sherwood's The History of the Fairchild Family as a prime example of this didactic approach, showcasing the harsh lessons and strict moral code imposed on children in the Victorian era.

The essay then introduces Jean-Jacques Rousseau's revolutionary ideas about childhood, emphasizing his belief in the child's inherent goodness and the importance of nature and experience in their development. It explores how Rousseau's ideas, along with the Romantic movement, led to a shift towards more entertaining and imaginative children's literature. The essay examines Charles Dickens' David Copperfield as an early example of this shift, highlighting the portrayal of the child as an individual with complex emotions and experiences. It also discusses the increasing popularity of fairy tales and fantasy elements in Victorian children's literature, arguing that while these stories may not have been overtly instructional, they still reflected a particular ideology and didacticism.

The essay concludes by examining the inter-war period, highlighting how children's literature continued to focus on the child's perspective while addressing new themes and offering ways of escapism in the face of the Second World War. It explores how the changing social and political landscape influenced the content and style of children's literature during this time.

Schlüsselwörter

The keywords and focus themes of the text include children's literature, Victorian Age, inter-war period, attitudes towards children, didacticism, entertainment, fantasy, escapism, philosophical influences, educational theories, social change, and the impact of war on literature.

• Université: University of Sussex
• Note: 1,7
• Auteur: Lydia Prexl (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2008
• Pages: 10
• N° de catalogue: V128323
• ISBN (ebook): 9783640380084
• ISBN (Livre): 9783640380046
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Attitudes, Comparison, Victorian, Inter-War, Period