Course Catalogue

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This course examines literature produced by British writers for children from 1850 to the present. It ranges across genres, from fantasy to school stories, and forms, from poetry to fiction and picture books.

Seven sets of preparatory online materials and activities, including videos, short quizzes and writing exercises.

Seven seminars of 90 minutes

Three workshops of 60 minutes.

This is one of the Honours options in English Literature and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Successful completion of Junior Honours English Literature, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

ENGLIT4018  British Children's Literature

The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Essay (3000 words) - 50% 

■ Annotated Bibliography (1500 words) - 25% 

■ Seminar contribution (10%) 

■ Presentation (15%)  

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the Essay (3000 words), but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ There are no alternatives to the Annotated Bibliography (1500 words), but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ Written self-evaluation reflecting on seminar contribution or written response to seminar material in advance or after seminar as alternative to seminar contribution.

■ Recorded presentation or One-to-one presentation / discussion/Q&A with staff (where presentation would normally be in class) as alternative to presentation. 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ study a range of children's literature from 1850 to the present day

■ develop critical skills, including close reading and the ability to analyse popular literature

■ consider literature for children in its cultural and historical contexts

■ examine the historical development of the concepts of childhood and young adulthood

■ analyse critically the status of 'children's literature' as a separate genre

■ engage with issues of readership and the marketing and commodification of literature.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ critically assess children's literature from 1850 to the present day

■ trace the historic development of genres and narrative forms

■ critically assess the language and themes of children's literature

■ articulate an understanding of the publishing and marketing circumstances of texts, and their status as commodities

■ explain the cultural and historical factors inherent in constructing a concept of 'childhood' and 'the child'

■ communicate responses to the material studied on the course both orally and in written form through coherent and sustained argument.