English and American Children’s Literature I.

Lecturer: PhDr. Mária Kiššová, PhD

Consultation hours: any time via email> mkissova@ukf.sk

Course aims and description:

This course is aimed at developing practical knowledge of a wide range of English-language literature
for younger children. We will discuss the phenomena as the literary nonsense, intertextuality and
philosophy. We will make critical evaluations of the literature, explore a broad range of works and
consider how children’s literature can be used to promote life-long reading and critical thinking. Our
main focus will be on the Modern Tale of the 19th and of the 20th century represented by the authors
such as Carroll, Wilde, Kipling and many others.

Course outline:

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE.

2. PICTURE BOOKS.
3. POETRY FOR CHILDREN.
4. FOLK TALES IN CONTEXT.
a. C. Perrault: Little Red Riding Hood;
b. The Grimms: Little Red Cap;
c. T. Ungerer: Little Red Riding Hood
d. T. Ross: Little Red Hood: A Classic Story Bent Out of Shape
e.
F. L. Block: Wolf
5. LITERATURE OF NONSENSE: E. Lear, L. CARROLL
a. L. Carroll: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
b.
E. Lear: Limericks.
6. SYMBOLIC TALE.
a. O. Wilde: The Happy Prince;
b. The Nightingale and the Rose;
c. The Selfish Giant
7. ANIMAL TALE.
a. R. Kipling: The Jungle Book;
b. B. Potter: The Tale of Peter Rabbit;
c. A.A. Milne: Winnie-the-Pooh
8. MODERN FANTASY FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN .
a. J. Barrie: Peter Pan;
b.
F. Baum: The Wizard of Oz
9. MODERN FANTASY FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN.
a. R. Dahl: Matilda;
b.
R. Dahl: The Twits
10. CREDIT WEEK.

List of Lectures:

1. Historical overview of children´s literature.

2. Picture books and illustrations.
3. Poetry for children.
4. Folk tales and fairy tales. Symbolic Tale: Oscar Wilde.
5. Nonsense literature: E. Lear and L. Carroll.
 6. Animal Tales/ Fantasy: R. Kipling, B. Potter, A. A. Milne.
7. Modern fantasy for younger children (J. Barrie, F. Baum, R. Dahl).

Course Requirements:

Students must complete all of the following in order to pass the course:

1. It is absolutely necessary to complete weekly readings of the books BEFORE the seminar
2. Active class participation + homework + regular attendance of lectures ! and seminars (2 or
more absences result in a grade of F)
3. Reading Journal (your experience from the reading, a short analysis)
4. Presentation
5. Oral exam

Recommended literature:

TOWNSEND, J.R.: Written for Children: An outline of English-language Children’s Literature. London.
1990.

CARPENTER, H., PRICHARD, M.: The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature. OUP. 1995.

HUNT, P.: An Introduction to Children’s Literature. OUP. 1994.

HUNT, P. (ed.): International Companion Encyclopaedia of Children’s Literature. Routledge. 1998.