The English Canon and the Child Reader
Mittwoch, 04.12.2024
Today, the retelling of canonical works 'for children' is so commonplace that we may forget how bizarre a genre it truly is. Many works in ‘traditional’ English literature brim with so-called adult themes, which are carefully changed, erased, or obscured in order to cater to a young and allegedly innocent audience. As we will see, bawdiness, violence, sex, toilet humour, and even sexual violence have been adapted for child readers in a wide variety of forms from the early nineteenth century to the present day. But given the difficulties involved, why retell the canon for children at all? What forces shape the resulting adaptations? And who exactly is the 'child reader' for whom such changes are apparently necessary? This course explores these questions through both scholarly and creative approaches. The first half considers the children’s adaptation in historical, economic, and aesthetic terms, reading extracts from widely adapted source-texts such as Chaucer's bawdy Canterbury Tales and the plays of Shakespeare. In the course’s second half, each student will focus on a source-text of their choice, as we explore aspects of the canon that specific children's adaptations must confront, such as obscenity, nationalism, race, and sexuality. Content Warning: Some of this course's discussions will cover topics such as racialisation, sexual violence, and physical violence. Required Reading: Shorter pieces for weekly reading will be made available on ILIAS, and a syllabus will be distributed in the first class. Before the first session, students are expected to read the following: Geoffrey Chaucer, The Miller’s Tale • The standard Middle English, with a modern English translation, is available online here: https://chaucer.fas.harvard.edu/pages/millers-prologue-and-tale and follows the Middle English text of The Riverside Chaucer, 3rd edition, edited by Larry D. Benson (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008). • In addition, students are welcome to read another modern English translation for any audience; please bring that translation to the first class.
| Veranstaltungsart: | Vorlesung/Seminar |
|---|---|
| Dozierende(r): | Dr. Lucy Hannah Fleming |
| 04.12.2024: | 14:15 - 16:00 |
| Ort: |
Unitobler Lerchenweg 36 3012 Bern EG, F003 |
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