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EDU32PLC – History of Children’s Literature Week 8 lecture 1

EDU32PLC – History of Children’s Literature Week 8 lecture 1 . Adventure Stories (for boys!). © La Trobe University, David Beagley 2005. Recommended reading:.

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EDU32PLC – History of Children’s Literature Week 8 lecture 1

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  1. EDU32PLC – History of Children’s LiteratureWeek 8 lecture 1 Adventure Stories (for boys!) © La Trobe University, David Beagley 2005

  2. Recommended reading: • Dennis Butts, (2004) Shaping Boyhood, in The International Companion Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature, ed. Peter Hunt, vol. 1. 340-351 • Diane Chapman, (2001) Adventure Stories, in The Continuum Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature, ed. Bernice Cullinan, 9-11

  3. Definition • A mixture of the extraordinary and the probable • if the events in a story are too mundane, they fail to excite, but a sequence of completely extraordinary events fails to be credible (Butts) • The adventure must be within the reach of the reader - it should be possible to believe it could happen to you.

  4. Definition Demonstrates many of the key elements in the development of Children’s Literature over time: • Relevance and “appropriateness” for children • Interaction with many sub-genres • Social issues: e.g. Gender, Post-colonialism, Race, Duty/responsibility, etc. • Recognition of children as a distinct audience

  5. The Extraordinary and the Probable - Story • Directed by narrative and plot - a series of events building to a resolution • The protagonists find themselves engaged in a series of dangerous, suspenseful situations, structured so that the reader is desperate to find out what is to happen next. • “the events have to seem to arise naturally from the context of the story to retain the young reader’s confidence” (Butts)

  6. The Extraordinary and the Probable - Story Several typical story patterns: • The Journey • The Robinsonnade • The Problem or mystery • The Unexpected Danger The setting is often unfamiliar, or even exotic

  7. Types of Adventure • Journey – Serraillier The Silver Sword (1956), Rodda Rowan of Rin (1993) Mattingley Asmir trilogy (1993-6), Garimara Rabbit Proof Fence (1996) • Robinsonnade – Chauncy Tiger in the Bush (1958), O’Dell Island of the Blue Dolphins (1960), George Julie of the Wolves (1972), Paulsen Hatchet (1987), Hartnett Forest (2001) • Mystery – Sherlock Holmes, Famous Five, Secret Seven, Kästner Emil and the Detectives (1933), Wrightson The Crooked Snake (1956), Zusack The Messenger (2002) • Unexpected danger - Southall Ash Road (1965), Thiele February Dragon (1965), Thiele Blue Fin (1970), Baillie The China Coin (1992), Marsden Tomorrow when the War began (1994)

  8. The Extraordinary and the Probable - Characters • Key characters are usually youthful, from realistic, everyday backgrounds • These characters are not extraordinary, but allow for identification by the reader • Adults are often either absent (especially parents) or dangerous (protagonists of plot) • May encounter an adult character who is mysterious or morally ambivalent/ambiguous

  9. Origins and development • To early 19th century - children’s stories are primarily didactic (i.e. teaching tools for moral and social virtues) • Mid 18th to early-mid 19th century - Adult adventure stories are popular with children: Swiss Family Robinson (1814), Ivanhoe (1820), Last of the Mohicans (1826) - styles are established • Leads to publication of many stories in serial form in magazines • Mid-late 19th century - genre (and market) embraced: The Silver Skates (1865), Tom Sawyer (1876), Black Beauty (1877), Treasure Island (1883), Heidi (1884), Huck Finn (1884), Huckleberry Finn (1884). King Solomon’s Mines (1885), Kidnapped (1886), The Jungle Books (1894-5) • Authors become famous, with appreciative audience: Twain, Ballantyne, Marryat, RL Stevenson, Kipling, Rider Haggard

  10. Origins and development Key aspects established: • Gender: boy heroes going out into wider world, girls have domestic adventures • Social values impressed: • Imperialism - civilized European dealing with the primitive exotic • Personal worth - honesty, loyalty, pluck in face of danger • Reward is earned by the successful application of those values to achieve the resolution • In essence - Growing up

  11. Origins and development • Key aspects continue and develop into 20th century • Popular stories and characters evolve into series: • Stratemeyer syndicate (USA) - Tom Swift, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys • School stories (UK) - Billy Bunter, Malory Towers, Hogwarts • Characters/settings - Biggles, Famous Five, Secret Seven, Simon Black, Billabong • Note little change in gender roles, personal values, Eurocentric politics • But, later 20th century – social realism and issues become increasingly important plot elements

  12. The Lure of Adventure • Exotic settings • Identifiable heroes • Gripping suspenseful storylines • Reinforcement of values • The Extraordinary and the Probable

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