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Frances Perretti Dr. Burk ENGL 414 29 August 2013 History Analysis After reading some traditional childrens literature, dating all the way back to the seventh, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, I begin to imagine what it would have been like to be a child in that time period. Honestly my immediate was response less than enthusiastic. The exuberant amount of emphasis put on sin and obedience is a bit overwhelming to my twenty-first century brain. I can confidently say I would not take up the chance to trade places with a Emily, Lucy, or Henry of the Fairchild Family, as depicted in The History of the Fairchild Family by Mary Martha Sherwood. Accordingly, the intention of the Fairchild family was simply to be virtuous god fearing Christian. We see this same image portrayed in many of Elizabeth Turners poems. Her work often included motifs of patience, obedience, and general good behavior. Those who do not obey will most certainly be punished.Yet this lifestyle causes me to wonder how the idea of confining children to be seen not heard effected childhood development? This mentality is sure to have slighted the growth of any individuals with strong kinetic intelligence. Did this perception of the ideal Christian child lead to the deconstruction of potential learning? On the other hand, one has to remember that during the time periods these pieces of literature were published, many children did not live out a full life. Without the assistance of advanced medical care at their disposal, the loss of a child was much more common. James Janeway, the author of A Token for Children, the first childrens book ever written, directs the preface of the text to parents, asking them to contemplate the value of their children souls. In the

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preface he states Will you not use your utmost endeavor to deliver them (children) for the wrath to come? (p. iv) From a twenty-first century perspective these tales may come off as morbid but when these stories were written the intention was not to intimidate children but rather make them feel comfortable with the idea of death. In fact the Christian influence in the text depicts death as a positive prospect for those who have found Jesus as their savior, as most who were reading the text did. This brings me to wonder what the children, who once read these tales themselves, would think of todays literature. Would our books and stories make us look like greedy vial sinners? One of my favorite childhood series was Harry Potter. I can hardly imagine the idea of magic and sorcery would be accepted. What would they have to say about what we are teaching our children today? Probably nothing good, but then again who am I to read the mind of those who lived hundreds of years before my time, although I can say I can read their books. Works Cited Janeway, James. A Token for Children. New York: Garland Pub., 1977.. Sherwood, Mary Martha. The History of the Fairchild Family. New York: Garland Pub., 1977. Turner, Elizabeth. The Cowslip, Or, Cautionary Stories, in Verse. Philadelphia: Johnson & Warner, 1813. Turner, Elizabeth. The Daisy, or Cautionary Stories in Verse. Philadelphia: Johnson & Warner, 1813.