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Realism in fiction for Children

EDU11GCL - Genres in Children’s Literature. Realism in fiction for Children. Lecture 1 Issues in realistic fiction. © La Trobe University, David Beagley 2005. Suggested Reading. Sheila Egoff (1997) Only Connect: readings in children’s literature. 3 rd ed. Toronto: Oxford University Press

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Realism in fiction for Children

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  1. EDU11GCL - Genres in Children’s Literature Realism in fiction for Children Lecture 1Issues in realistic fiction © La Trobe University, David Beagley 2005

  2. Suggested Reading Sheila Egoff (1997) Only Connect: readings in children’s literature. 3rd ed. Toronto: Oxford University Press (Collection of essays by major figures in the field - earlier editions are also useful, though they have different essays)

  3. Realism - definitions • Believable characters in realistic settings facing, and dealing with, real problems. • May be defined as imaginative writing that accurately reflects life as it was lived in the past or could be lived today. • Everything in the story could have happened to real people living in our natural world - it could happen to you.

  4. Realism - definitions Inner and outer reality • Inner - the personal, the lived experience, the elements by which you know yourself • Outer - the world outside, the elements by which you place yourself in context • Realism in fiction is a way to align the two

  5. Realism - definitions • Helps children to understand life - their own or others. • Thus, stories about growing up, coming to terms with life, finding a place in family, among peers and in society. • Fuller understandings of human problems, relationships, leads to better understanding of themselves and their own potential. Enlarges, deepens compassion. • BUT – danger of didacticism, preaching.

  6. Realism - definitions Vicarious experience - looking at the world from other peoples’ perspectives. • Shared problems connect people. • Knowing daily details lessens generalization and prejudice. • The outer reality helps to define and explore the inner reality

  7. Realism - features • A character / storyline that you can easily relate to. • Real world issues ie not aliens, magic or talking animals. • An experience that could happen to anyone - something that happens to everyday people in ordinary situations. • Adults must not solve children’s problems - even if it involves new learning, the solution must be realistic in the reader’s terms. • Adults are often the cause of the problem, or absent.

  8. Realism - features • Present or past situations - authenticity. • Story structure logical Problem - Search for Solution - Resolution • Taps into universally felt emotionseg. Identity, loneliness, companionship, love • Deals with common social valuese.g. justice, belonging, equality • not too melodramatic / exotic / fanciful. • “Reasonably positive resolution”

  9. Realism - problems Problem may be particular • May be limited to precise circumstances - “exotic”, not local • Easy to be stereotypical in representation of characters (making claims for all members of a group) e.g.: • ethnicitye.g. : Parvana (girls in Afghanistan), Heaven’s Breath (AIDS in Africa) • depictions of social or economic status : Looking for X (Autism, poverty)

  10. Realism - problems Currency • Can become outdated quickly due to outer reality changing e.g.: clothes; hobbies; language; TV programs; pop stars and celebrities; current events • Accepted attitudes to issues may change e.g.: sexuality, guns & hunting, gender roles

  11. Realism - problems Stories may be controversial • The “realistic” issue may be well outside the reader’s likely experience - un-realistic • Caring adults may not feel child readers should face the specific issues (yet) eg: • treatment of disabled people in institutions; • drug use; • violence • homelessness; • teenage pregnancy; • coming to terms with one’s sexuality.

  12. Realism - problems Grim realities • Many writers think that “realism” in fiction must deal with the worst aspects of life.e.g.: AIDS, homelessness, drugs, abuse, violence • Late 20th century saw sudden expansion of “acceptable” topics in children’s literature – the problem novel (Egoff) • Paul Zindel My darling, my hamburger (1969) Judy Blume Forever (1976), Robin Klein Came back to show you I could fly (1985), Sonya Hartnett Sleeping Dogs (1995)

  13. Realism - problems • Is children’s literature the place for warts’n’all reality? • Protection(shield them from the nasties, they will get enough later) • vs • Vaccination(finding out from the safety of a book prepares them to face reality) • Children’s Literature vs Young Adult/Teen literature – where and what are the boundaries? • Should literature question or should it answer?

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