ED-ENG MAJ 02: Children and Adolescent Literature

HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND OF
CHILDREN`S
LITERATURE Tamara Angela B. Lorenzo
BSED-ENG 1
The Classical Oral literature was the principal
entertainment for most people
Period during this period. All literature
(500 bc-400 ad) began with the ancient art of
storytelling.
The earliest books for children were designed
to inform,
instruct, and improve rather than to
awaken, enlighten, and
enlarge the heart and mind.

FA M O U S G R E E K S T O R I E S
(500 BCE)
Homer’s Odyssey: Travels of
Odysseus
From Homer’s Iliad: Trojan War
And The Adventures of Hercules
Aesop's Fables
(in the late to mid-6th century BCE)
-or the Aesopica, animal tales
with pointed morals to instruct
children in cultural and personal
values.
Aesop`s most known fable is
the:
"The Tortoise and the Hare"
 Anglo-Saxon
Period 410 to
Aldhelm of Malmesbury (639-709)
1066
- He is the first man to write lesson books for children.
- His De Septenario, de Metris, Enigmatibus ac Pedum Regulis, contained the meaning
and use of the bible, riddles and puzzles in Latin which children were asked to solve.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
ANGLO-SAXON
L I T E R AT U R E

M E TA P H O R S : A C O M PA R I S O N
Epic Poetry was one of the most W I T H O U T “ L I K E ” or “as”
common Similes: a comparison using “like” or
genres of literature during this “as”
period Alliteration: repetition of the initial
consonant sound in a line of poetry
Caesura: a pause in a line of poetry
Beowulf was the most
Kenning: a descriptive phrase or
famous story to compound word that substitutes a noun
Repetition
come out of the
- Stories were often filled with violence
Anglo-Saxon era and
gore
(It was written in between 8th and - Most stories were about heroic warriors
prevailing in battle
the early 11th century) - Characters were driven by fate and their
- courage was tested
 William Caxton
The Medieval (1421-1491)

-was the first English printer

Period -His books for children were
lesson books and courtesy books,
5th - late 15th Century
only available to a small number of
children.

One of his work was the

Book of Curteseye (1477).
 ABC BOOKS
Medieval-18th Century
These were used at hour of prime
as a book of private devotions in
the Angelican church
HORNBOOK
-The printing of the
Bornbook came about in the late fifteen
hundreds.
-Capital letters followed by vowels and
their combinations with consonants
were printed across the top and The
Lord`s Prayer was printed at the
bottom.
 CHAPBOOKS
16TH CENTURY
CHARLES PERRAULT
A chapbook is "a small book or 1628-1703
pamphlet containing poems, ballads, French poet, prose writer, and
stories, or religious tracts" storyteller, a leading member of the
(dictionary) Académie Française.

The term is still used today to refer to Perrault’s fairy stories are“Little Red
short, inexpensive booklets. Riding Hood,” “The Sleeping Beauty,”
“Puss in Boots,” and “Bluebeard,” .
 PURITAN
PERIOD
[ 1620-1750 ] One of the major influences on
During the age of the Puritans, fear played a
the Puritan movement was
critical role in preparing children for the John Bunyan's Pilgrim's
afterlife; now, fear lost its educating force as it Progress (18 February 1678)
became absorbed into the genre of fantasy.
Fairy and Folk Tales
At the beginning, fairy and folk tales were considered inappropriate reading
material for children, especially among the middle class. Puritans viewed
them as a form of witchcraft.

A Legend is a genre of folklore that are sometimes distinguished from

myths in that they concern human beings as the main characters rather than
gods, and sometimes in that they have some sort of historical basis whereas
myths generally do not.
 THE DIDACTIC
JOHN NEWBERRY PERIOD
ERA (1765-1785)
1713-1767
Jean Jacques Rousseau
John Nweberry Rousseau advocated that children should be
-A publisher who first taught publishing
taught about real things and the world they
books solely for children.
lived in. Most of children's books should be
-He was called "Father of Children`s
devoted to practical education.
Literature"
(Books for Teaching
Children)

A Little Pretty
Pocket-Book (1744) -wrote Emile (1762)
 reference
Hughes, J. (1975). The Development of Children`s Literature
. Retrieved on Sept. 6, 2021 from Scholarly Commons:
https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1320&context=honors_theses
Thank
you!