ENG290 Children's Literature in a Pluralistic Society
Course Description
This course examines the historical and social function of children's literature from oral origins to modern anthologies, exploring cultural, familial, and psychological messages in nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and early childhood fiction. Students will identify major 19th and 20th century schools of literary criticism and consider multiple ways literature for and about children constructs concepts of childhood. The course surveys readings across cultures (European/American, Native American, African American, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino), and genres (nursery rhymes, fairy tales, picture books, early childhood fiction), addressing portrayals of ethnicity, race, class, and gender in children's literature, and considers the impact and implications of film adaptations of select children's stories in a pluralistic society.
Topics and Objectives
History and Function of Children’s Literature
- Identify key milestones in the history of children’s literature.
- Discuss the social functions of children’s literature across cultures.
- Describe ways literature for and about children constructs concepts of childhood.
- Examine the history and underlying issues of censorship of children's literature.
Critical Approaches to Children’s Literature
- Explore 19th and 20th century critical approaches to interpreting literature.
- Evaluate a cross-cultural sampling of children's literature from textual, psychological, sociological, feminist, historical, and multicultural perspectives.
- Analyze implicit and explicit themes and literal and figurative meanings of texts.
Nursery Rhymes and Folk Literature
- Explain the role of nursery rhymes and folk literature in shaping/reflecting familial and cultural values..
- Examine minority images (ethnicity, race, class, gender, age) and stereotyping in nursery rhymes and folk literature.
Picture Books and Children's Poetry
- Evaluate literary elements and structural devices in children's picture books and poetry.
- Examine minority images (ethnicity, race, class, gender, age) and stereotyping in picture and children's poetry.
Realistic Fiction, Fantasy, and Film
- Examine minority images (ethnicity, race, class, gender, age) and stereotyping in realistic fiction, fantasy, and film.
- Explain the role of realistic fiction and fantasy in shaping/reflecting familial and cultural values.
- Analyze the implications of cinematic adaptations of children's literature in a pluralistic society.
Request Information
or you can call us
