CLC2104B International Children’s Literature Western V. Tumanov 12/8/2015 1

WESTERN UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES (UC 115)

CLC 2104B: International Children's Literature1 Winter (2nd semester) 2015-16

Instructor: Vlad Tumanov ([email protected]) Office hours: T/Th 3:30-4:30 Time: T. 430-530 Th. 430-630 Location: P&AB-36

Course Content This is an international survey of the children's novel as a genre from the 19th century on. We will consider works of pure fantasy, as well as realistic works. The course will cover literature meant for younger audiences and teenagers, considering such themes as child- parent relationships, growing up, the power of the imagination, identity formation, freedom etc. Taught in English (all works in English translation). Course Requirements Participation...... 7% Oral presentation...... 20% Midterm (in class) ...... 20% 2 written assignments (600 w. [10%] each)...... 20% A. Imagine a story from our reading list as it would be told by one of the characters (not the hero). Keep in mind this character's biases, interests, goals and concerns. Alternative topic: analyze the thinking, behavior and situation of a character from a work on our reading list. B. In connection to one of our texts, imagine an alternative ending or the development of a secondary story line (stemming from an episode of your choice) Final Exam (3 hrs.)...... 33%

Texts in Sequence 1. Collodi, Carlo. The Adventures of Pinocchio. (Italy) 2. Spyri, Johanna. Heidi. (Switzerland) 3. Jansson, Tove. Finn Family Moomintroll. (Finland) 4. Lindgren, Astrid. Pippi Longstocking. (Sweden) 5. Ende, Michael. The Neverending Story. (Germany)

1 Former CLC 2130F/G. Former numbers are antirequisites for all courses. CLC2104B International Children’s Literature Western V. Tumanov 12/8/2015 2

6. Funke, Cornelia. The Thief Lord. (Germany) Films will be shown in class.

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Course Schedule (CH = class hour [50 minutes])

•Introduction (± 2 CH) Jan. 5, 7 •The Adventures of Pinocchio (± 4 CH) Jan. 7, 12, 14 •Heidi (± 3 CH) Jan. 19, 21, 26 •Presentation 1: Versions of Pinocchio Jan. 26

•Finn Family Moomintroll (± 4 CH) Jan. 28, Feb. 2, 4, 9

•Presentation 2: Pollyanna Feb. 9 •Assignment 1 due Feb. 14

•Pippi Longstocking (± 3 CH) Feb. 11, 23, 25 •Presentation 3: Tove Jansson’s other novel Feb. 25 •Presentation 4: Astrid Lindgren’s Karlsson Mar. 1 •Midterm Mar. 3 •The Neverending Story (± 4 CH) Mar. 8, 10 15, 17

•The Thief Lord (± 4 CH) Nov. 22, 24, 29, 31 •Presentation 5: 's Momo Mar. 31 •Presentation 6: Cornelia Funke's Apr. 5 •Assignment 2 due

N.B. The reading list schedule is approximate. The presentation schedule is firm.

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Presentation Topics and Format:

•20 min. (1-3 presenters [if more than 1, the grade is shared]2) •Brief plot summary; characters; themes; structure; connection to class lectures, e-mail list of references •see Sample Presentation - Bulgakov: http://publish.uwo.ca/~vtumanov/Most_Recent_Courses.html

N.B. Cornell notes — http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes.html: an excellent note-taking method for lectures.

Learning Aims The course aims to achieve the following: •show the emergence of childhood as a concept worthy of adult attention •demonstrate the formation of children’s literature as a separate genre corresponding to various notions of childhood •analyze the way in which the view of the child has evolved from the late 17th century to today •deal with various controversies pertaining to what is deemed suitable in writing for children •reflect on the tension existing between didacticism and diversion in children’s literature •investigate the differences between norms inherent in literature for adults and children’s texts •illustrate, on the one hand, the tendency to simplify the world and, on the other hand, the willingness to tackle complex themes in children’s literature. •explore the key themes of the genre, e.g., the value of home, parental constraints, growing up, the need for independence, basic fears, wishes vs. reality, gender roles, fantasy etc. •enrich the cultural experience of students by supplementing the literary works with films.

Learning Outcomes It is expected that, upon the successful completion of this course, the students will have: •acquired the knowledge of various major works for young people from outside the English-speaking realm •understood common trends in certain novels with respect to changing values, gender roles, mythological patterns, child-parent relationships, the difficulties of maturation, identity-formation and the human capacity for fantasy, as well as other issues •grasped the way in which writing for young people reflects social development over time •evaluated the discrepancy between the real child and the child as imagined by adults given that children’s literature is not written by children •appreciated the need to approach literary works in the context of contemporary literary norms •gained insight into the differences between various authors’ respective conceptions of what constitutes “interesting” subject-matter in children’s writing, e.g., does a children’s story absolutely need a “bad guy”?

2 One person can speak for all or presenters can take turns. Speak clearly and project. Use PPT. CLC2104B International Children’s Literature Western V. Tumanov 12/8/2015 5

•improved their ability to express themselves on these and other related topics orally (through in-class presentations) and in writing (through

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures Policies (which govern the conduct, standards, and expectations for student participation in the department's courses) are available here. It is your responsibility to understand these policies, and thus ignorance thereof cannot be used as grounds for appeal. essays and exams).