The Rhetoric of Character in Children's Literature

by Maria Nikolajeva

Overview

Now available in paperback! Until now, there was no theoretical research of character in children's fiction and very few comprehensive theoretical studies of literary characters in general. In her latest intellectual foray, the author of From Mythic to Linear ponders the art of characterization. Through a variety of critical perspectives, she uncovers the essential differences between story ('what we are told') and discourse ('how we are told'), and carefully distinguishes between how these are employed in children's fiction and in general fiction. Yet another masterful work by a leading figure in contemporary criticism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461673507
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	01/01/2002
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	344
File size:	592 KB

About the Author

Maria Nikolajeva is Professor of Comparative Literature at Stockholm University in Stockholm, Sweden. She was the president of the International Research Society for Children's Literature 1993-97. She has also been member of the North American Children's Literature Association since 1985 and has served on its International Committee. In addition to being the author and editor of several books on children's literature, she is one of the senior editors of the forthcoming Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Introduction. Why a Theory of a Character?
Part 2 PART 1. ONTOLOGY AND TYPOLOGY OF CHARACTER
Chapter 3 Chapter 1. Approaches to Literary Characters
Chapter 4 Chapter 2. From Hero to Character
Chapter 5 Chapter 3. In Search of the Protagonist
Chapter 6 Chapter 4. Collective Character
Chapter 7 Chapter 5. From Collective Character to Intersubjectivity
Chapter 8 Chapter 6. Secondary Characters and Character Constellations
Chapter 9 Chapter 7. Complexity and Development
Part 10 PART 2. EPISTEMOLOGY OF CHARACTER
Chapter 11 Chapter 8. Character and Plot
Chapter 12 Chapter 9. Authorial Discourse: Description and Narration
Chapter 13 Chapter 10. Authorial Discourse: Actions and Events
Chapter 14 Chapter 11. Figural Discourse: Speech Acts
Chapter 15 Chapter 12. Figural Discourse: Internal Representation
Chapter 16 Chapter 13. Implicit Characterization

Editorial Reviews

How are characters revealed in a narrative? What devices or strategies are used? What can we learn from reading about them? These are some of the questions that Nikolajeva attempts to answer through her exploration of "the rhetoric of character. She argues that while critics, students, and scholars often cite the use of fine characterization in evaluating a novel, there is a lack of understanding and a dearth of critical material on the process by which authors create full-bodied figures. Nikolajeva explores the many approaches to an understanding of characterDas an extension of the author's life, as a creation of reader response, as metaphor, as psychological allegoryDand gives examples of characters from both classic and contemporary children's literature. She discusses the difficulties inherent in many questions that teachers pose to children and points out that there are many ways to answer such questions. An unsophisticated child, for example, might name Pooh as the main character in Winnie-the-Pooh while a more sophisticated university student may see Christopher Robin, with his slow maturation through the stories, as the protagonist. While many of her references are to classic novels, the study also cites more recent authors such as Katherine Paterson and Philip Pullman. In one particularly illuminating passage discussing the concept of collective protagonists, she compares the company of travelers in The Wizard of Oz to a similar questing group in the original Star Wars film, emphasizing the use of nonhuman supporting characters in fantasy. Ultimately, she concludes that characters cannot be studied as elements isolated from the narrative in which they are found, that setting and plot do much to inform character, and that characterization must be viewed within the context of the work as a whole. Written in a scholarly style, this study will be of greatest use in academic libraries and public libraries that support courses in children's literature at the undergraduate and graduate levels.-Connie C. Rockman, Stratford Library Association, CT Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Nikolajeva (comparative literature, Stockholm U., Sweden and Abo Akademi U., Finland) realized from the poor responses of her students<-->future teachers<-->that they were not being given adequate tools for analyzing the artistic means used for characterization in children's literature. She therefore investigates the ontological and epistemological aspects of characters in children's fiction, and identifies the principle differences between characterization in children's fiction and in general fiction. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

One of the most scholarly treatments of children's literature available, this book makes a significant contribution to both the examination of children's literature and the theoretical study of literary character. It excels brilliantly on both levels. Accessible, free from jargon, and thoroughly usable, the book will be useful both to those used to more traditional discussions of static or flat character and to those more comfortable with the newer language of intersubjective character construction. Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above.

Choice Reviews

As always, Nikolajeva's familiarity with a wide range of international literary theory and children's literature is apparent...a welcome survey of the literature and a starting place for future studies of aspects of character that have only been touched on here.

Children's Literature

One of the most scholarly treatments of children's literature available, this book makes a significant contribution to both the examination of children's literature and the theoretical study of literary character. It excels brilliantly on both levels. Accessible, free from jargon, and thoroughly usable, the book will be useful both to those used to more traditional discussions of static or flat character and to those more comfortable with the newer language of intersubjective character construction. Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above.

Choice

One of the most scholarly treatments of children's literature available, this book makes a significant contribution to both the examination of children's literature and the theoretical study of literary character. It excels brilliantly on both levels. Accessible, free from jargon, and thoroughly usable, the book will be useful both to those used to more traditional discussions of static or flat character and to those more comfortable with the newer language of intersubjective character construction. Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above.--CHOICE

As always, Nikolajeva's familiarity with a wide range of international literary theory and children's literature is apparent...a welcome survey of the literature and a starting place for future studies of aspects of character that have only been touched on here.--Children's Literature

This study will be of greatest use in academic libraries and public libraries that support courses in children's literature at the undergraduate and graduate levels.--School Library Journal

From the Publisher

One of the most scholarly treatments of children's literature available, this book makes a significant contribution to both the examination of children's literature and the theoretical study of literary character. It excels brilliantly on both levels. Accessible, free from jargon, and thoroughly usable, the book will be useful both to those used to more traditional discussions of static or flat character and to those more comfortable with the newer language of intersubjective character construction. Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above.

CHOICE