University of Strathclyde

Department of
English Studies
Glasgow G1 1XH
0141-552 4400

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: FINAL EXAM 2003-4

Three-hour, open-book exam. Answer TWO questions.

Do not use the same material in both answers. Do not make extensive use of texts that you have written on in your essays; avoid altogether the short texts and passages that were examined in lectures and workshops. You should write about at least two texts in each of your answers.

1. 'The history of children's literature reflects changing historical ideas about children and childhood'. Discuss.

2. How far is it true to say that the goal of children's literature has always been to offer moral instruction and guidance to child readers?

3. 'In order to understand children's literature in English the reader has to be familiar with Christian scripture and theology.' Discuss.

4. 'The reason for the current popularity of children's literature is that, contrary to most literature aimed at adults, children's literature continues to deal with large questions and themes.' Discuss.

5. To what extent is it true to say that children's literature tends to be conservative and unchallenging in terms of its adherence to thematic, generic and formal conventions?

6. Write about at least two texts from any one genre of children's writing (e.g., fantasy, fairy tale, school story, adventure, etc) in order to derive preliminary hypotheses about the conventions of that genre.

7. In what ways might the literature aimed at children over the last twenty years or so be considered unsuitable for children?

8. 'In order fully to appreciate contemporary children's literature, readers need to be familiar with the historical tradition of children's literature.' Discuss.

For further information about the Children's Literature class, please contact Dr Tom Furniss at t.furniss@strath.ac.uk

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