ENGL 392-002
Children’s Literature
Gisèle Baxter
Term 1
MWF, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
“Something in the Shadows is Watching”
Angela Carter, “The Company of Wolves”
From The Turn of the Screw to The Others, creepy children frequently haunt Gothic texts. But what of Gothic texts assuming a young audience? Children’s/YA literature so often focuses on successful (or not so successful) negotiation of threats and learning opportunities in the intimate and public worlds around the child that “children’s” tales are often scarier than adult fiction.
In this section, we will study a variety of texts through a literary/cultural studies lens, exploring their (sometimes) evolving genre features. We’ll start with familiar (and not-so-familiar) oral-tradition folk/fairytales, to consider how their recurring devices establish tropes still frequently recurring. Then we will stray from the path and consider how a selection of novels might challenge or subvert perceived boundaries and conventions, especially in engaging with Gothic themes and motifs, ending with a graphic novel examining the adolescent engagement with Gothic culture.
Evaluation will be based on two short essays, a term paper requiring secondary academic research, and an essay-based final examination, as well as participation in discussion.
Core texts tentatively include Martin Hallett and Barbara Karasek, eds. Folk and Fairy Tales, 5th Edition. (Broadview); Roald Dahl, The Witches; Alan Garner, The Owl Service; Neil Gaiman, Coraline; Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, Skim.
As the Faculty of Arts has determined that all BA courses will be offered online in Fall 2020, this course will proceed in a fully online form, using Canvas, and a combination of asynchronous (notes, links, discussion forums, slides, and videos) and synchronous (short live lectures and discussion) materials. I will make sure as much material as possible is available in digital format (and will identify ebook options for course texts) and that the full course is accessible to all students.
Please check my blog at http://blogs.ubc.ca/drgmbaxter/ for updates concerning the course, its texts, and its requirements.
