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EDU12HCL – History of Children’s Literature Week 8 lecture 2

EDU12HCL – History of Children’s Literature Week 8 lecture 2 . Fantasy Adventure Stories. © La Trobe University, David Beagley 2005. Recommended reading:. Charlotte Huck (1987) Modern Fantasy, in Children’s Literature in the Elementary School, pp. 335-378

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EDU12HCL – History of Children’s Literature Week 8 lecture 2

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  1. EDU12HCL – History of Children’s LiteratureWeek 8 lecture 2 Fantasy Adventure Stories © La Trobe University, David Beagley 2005

  2. Recommended reading: Charlotte Huck (1987) Modern Fantasy, in Children’s Literature in the Elementary School, pp. 335-378 Diane Chapman, (2001) Adventure Stories, in The Continuum Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature, ed. Bernice Cullinan, 9-11 Janet Hickman, (2001) Fantasy Stories, in The Continuum Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature, ed. Bernice Cullinan, 275-276 CW Sullivan (2004) High Fantasy, in The International Companion Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature, ed. Peter Hunt, vol. 1. 436-446

  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. Origins and development Key aspects established in the 19th century: • 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 personal values to achieve the resolution • In essence - Growing up

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

  6. The Extraordinary and the Probable • Adventure Storiesmust balance the extraordinary and the probable by taking short steps through reality towards the exciting/exotic • Fantasy Stories shift the balance in some literary aspects more towards the extraordinary BUT NOT ALL • Is Adventure a distinct genre of literature, or is it a cross-genre style of writing? e.g. Adventure = plot / Fantasy = setting

  7. Shifting the balance Fantasy stories are usually asking ‘What If … ?’ Creative questions such as: … animals could talk? … children could fly? … toys come alive? … you could travel across the galaxy? … you could become invisible? … magic was a human skill? … dragons (trolls, elves, orcs, psammeads) were? … and then what? … then the adventure starts!

  8. The Other worlds “the journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one’s feet” (Lao Tzu. 5th century BC) • Any journey begins from where you are • Our world must be the starting point for “The Other” – the secondary world • An aspect of accepted reality is alteredeg time, place, (a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away), size, skills, identity, social fabric … • But the rest of reality remains – contiguous, consistent, co-existent - the worlds walk side by side, “the inner consistency of reality” (Tolkien) • Cosmography - Cosmology

  9. Peter Pan – a brief history • Peter appears as a character in The Little White Bird (1902) • Expanded as a stage play Peter Pan; or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (1904) • Adaptations based on characters and story: Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906), When Wendy grew up (1908), Peter and Wendy (1911) • First movie version 1924 • Expanded novel version 1928 • Disney animated version 1953 • All royalties go to a children’s hospital in London

  10. The Films

  11. Peter Pan – Keeping the elements Typical adventure story patterns: • Journey format – beginning from Home/Safety • Exotic setting, far away in an uncivilized place • Characters – Red Indians, pirates, crocodiles • Challenge to survive and bring civilization • Absence of adults, except as danger • Series of suspenseful episodes, leading to resolution • Definite gender differentiation – Peter and boys playing, Wendy as “little mother”

  12. Peter Pan – shifting the balance “What if …? Fantasy elements • Mode of transport – personal flying • Sewing the shadow • Characters – fairies, mermaids • Death and life • Growing up

  13. 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

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