Language and Control in Children's Literature

by Murray Knowles, Kirsten Malmkjaer

Overview

This study examines the work of children's writers from the 19th and 20th centuries in order to expose the persuasive power of language. Looking at the work of 19th century English writers of juvenile fiction, Knowles and Malmkjaer expose the colonial and class assumptions on which the books were predicated. In the modern teen novel and the work of Roald Dahl the authors find contemporary attempts to control children within socially established frameworks. Other authors discussed include, Oscar Wilde, E. Nesbit, Lewis Carroll and C.S. Lewis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415086257
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/14/1995
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Murray Knowles lectures in Applied English Linguistics at the Centre for English Language Studies, University of Birmingham.
Kirsten Malmkjxr is Assistant Director of Research at the University of Cambridge Research Centre for English and Applied Linguistics. Her previous publications include The LinguisticsEncyclopedia (Routledge, 1991).

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Children's literature in England; Chapter 2 Literature as a carrier of ideology: children's literature and control; Chapter 3 Traditional juvenile fiction; Chapter 4 Today's young reader; Chapter 5 The fairytale; Chapter 6 Fantasy fiction; Chapter 7 Last thoughts;

Editorial Reviews

Matheson (curator of ancient art, Yale University Art Gallery) provides a detailed analysis of Polygnotos, a major vase painter of classical Athens whose workshop flourished for 50 years, from the golden age of Pericles to the end of the fifth century. She analyzes the distinctive, evolving Polygnotan style first isolated by Sir John Beazley, comparing this style to that of contemporary Athenian workshops and demonstrating its seminal influence on the later vase painting of southern Italy. Some 600 pieces are discussed, 171 of which are illustrated (b&w). Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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