English and drama

The Politics of Children's Literature

Module code: Q3326
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Coursework

George Orwell once wrote that ‘many people who would consider themselves extremely sophisticated and “advanced” are actually carrying through life an imaginative background which they acquired in childhood.’ This module examines the political lessons children’s books encode about what childhood is, and about which children matter and why. You will read children’s texts from a range of genres and forms – including fantasy, school stories, picturebooks, and domestic fiction – written between the late eighteenth century and the present day.

Key focuses include agency, gender, race, class, and the environment. The final assessment optionally involves creative writing for children.

Module learning outcomes

• To understand the history of children’s literature from the eighteenth century to the present day
• To critically evaluate how children’s texts encode political messages, including messages about gender, race, and social class
• To gain experience in analyzing word-image texts, including picturebooks
• To effectively communicate detailed analyses of children’s books through creative and critical writing