Exploring Children's Literature

Have you ever wondered where fairy tales come from? From Bluebeard's sadistic jealousy to the implicit sexuality of Little Red Riding Hood , fairy tales derive much of their substance from the early European tradition and oral folk culture, the first examples of children's fiction embody the cultural perspectives and desires of a pre-industrial, lower-class people. Our examination transitions into a discussion of more modern fiction written for older children as we look at the work of (among others) Stevenson, Carroll, and Rowling. Our ongoing exploration of children's literature will be concerned with the historical origins and social context of each text in an attempt to explain common thematic trends in the material throughout the term.