Ventures Into Childland

Ventures Into Childland

Author: U. C. Knoepflmacher

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 470

ISBN-13: 9780226448169

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Behind the innocent face of Victorian fairy tales such as Through the Looking Glass or Mopsa the Fairy lurks the spectre of an intense nineteenth-century debate about the very nature - and ownership - of childhood. In the engagingly written Ventures into Childland, U.C. Knoepflmacher illuminates this debate. Offering brilliant rereadings of classics from the "Golden Age of Children's Literature" as well as literature commonly considered "grown-up," Knoepflmacher probes deeply into the relations between adults and children, adults and their own childhood selves, and between the lives of beloved Victorian authors and their "children's tales."


Book Synopsis Ventures Into Childland by : U. C. Knoepflmacher

Download or read book Ventures Into Childland written by U. C. Knoepflmacher and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 1998 with total page 470 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Behind the innocent face of Victorian fairy tales such as Through the Looking Glass or Mopsa the Fairy lurks the spectre of an intense nineteenth-century debate about the very nature - and ownership - of childhood. In the engagingly written Ventures into Childland, U.C. Knoepflmacher illuminates this debate. Offering brilliant rereadings of classics from the "Golden Age of Children's Literature" as well as literature commonly considered "grown-up," Knoepflmacher probes deeply into the relations between adults and children, adults and their own childhood selves, and between the lives of beloved Victorian authors and their "children's tales."


Theology of George MacDonald

Theology of George MacDonald

Author: John R. de Jong

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2021-01-01

Total Pages: 293

ISBN-13: 0718895797

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George MacDonald (1824–1905) was writing at a time of Evangelical unease. In a society ravaged by Asiatic cholera, numbed by levels of infant mortality, and fearful of revolution and the toxicity of industry (to name but a few of the many challenges), the ‘gospel’ proclaiming eternal damnation for unbelievers was hardly good news; rather, Christianity was increasingly viewed as the source of bad news and a tool of state oppression. MacDonald agreed: in his view, the church had become a vampire, sucking the blood of her children instead of offering them Eucharistic life. In contrast, like Christ, MacDonald offers us a child. Although at first sight a familiar Romantic incarnation, in MacDonald’s theology ‘the child’ becomes an unlikely icon challenging the vampire’s kingdom and confronting the foundations of much of Western theology. John R. de Jong’s meticulously researched study of MacDonald’s work – especially his ‘realist’ and fantasy novels – in its Victorian context is of more than historical interest. In light of the growth of fundamentalist expressions of Christianity, we are encouraged to consider embracing MacDonald’s radical solution to religious vampirism: becoming children.


Book Synopsis Theology of George MacDonald by : John R. de Jong

Download or read book Theology of George MacDonald written by John R. de Jong and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2021-01-01 with total page 293 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: George MacDonald (1824–1905) was writing at a time of Evangelical unease. In a society ravaged by Asiatic cholera, numbed by levels of infant mortality, and fearful of revolution and the toxicity of industry (to name but a few of the many challenges), the ‘gospel’ proclaiming eternal damnation for unbelievers was hardly good news; rather, Christianity was increasingly viewed as the source of bad news and a tool of state oppression. MacDonald agreed: in his view, the church had become a vampire, sucking the blood of her children instead of offering them Eucharistic life. In contrast, like Christ, MacDonald offers us a child. Although at first sight a familiar Romantic incarnation, in MacDonald’s theology ‘the child’ becomes an unlikely icon challenging the vampire’s kingdom and confronting the foundations of much of Western theology. John R. de Jong’s meticulously researched study of MacDonald’s work – especially his ‘realist’ and fantasy novels – in its Victorian context is of more than historical interest. In light of the growth of fundamentalist expressions of Christianity, we are encouraged to consider embracing MacDonald’s radical solution to religious vampirism: becoming children.


Uncanny Fairy Tales

Uncanny Fairy Tales

Author: Francesca Arnavas

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2024-05-31

Total Pages: 233

ISBN-13: 1040028241

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There are fairy tales that surprise, destabilise, or even shock us: these are uncanny fairy tales that manipulate familiar stories in creative and bewildering ways in order to express new meanings. This work analyses these tales, basing its approach on a reformulation of Freud’s concept of the uncanny. Through a cognitive outlook the employed theoretical framework provides new perspectives on the study of experimental literary fairy tales. Considering English-language literature, complex and unsettling reinterpretations of the fairy-tale discourse began to appear during the Victorian Age, later resurfacing as a postmodern trend. This research individuates uncanny-related narrative techniques and cognitive responses as means to decodify and explore these tales, and as ways to discover unseen connections between Victorian and postmodern texts. The new theorisation of the uncanny is linked with three subconcepts: mirror, hybridity, and wonder, which function as tools to describe and investigate the cognitive and emotional entanglements characterising enigmatic and disorienting fairy tales.


Book Synopsis Uncanny Fairy Tales by : Francesca Arnavas

Download or read book Uncanny Fairy Tales written by Francesca Arnavas and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2024-05-31 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are fairy tales that surprise, destabilise, or even shock us: these are uncanny fairy tales that manipulate familiar stories in creative and bewildering ways in order to express new meanings. This work analyses these tales, basing its approach on a reformulation of Freud’s concept of the uncanny. Through a cognitive outlook the employed theoretical framework provides new perspectives on the study of experimental literary fairy tales. Considering English-language literature, complex and unsettling reinterpretations of the fairy-tale discourse began to appear during the Victorian Age, later resurfacing as a postmodern trend. This research individuates uncanny-related narrative techniques and cognitive responses as means to decodify and explore these tales, and as ways to discover unseen connections between Victorian and postmodern texts. The new theorisation of the uncanny is linked with three subconcepts: mirror, hybridity, and wonder, which function as tools to describe and investigate the cognitive and emotional entanglements characterising enigmatic and disorienting fairy tales.


Moulding the Female Body in Victorian Fairy Tales and Sensation Novels

Moulding the Female Body in Victorian Fairy Tales and Sensation Novels

Author: Laurence Talairach-Vielmas

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-04-15

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 1317093917

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Laurence Talairach-Vielmas explores Victorian representations of femininity in narratives that depart from mainstream realism, from fairy tales by George MacDonald, Lewis Carroll, Christina Rossetti, Juliana Horatia Ewing, and Jean Ingelow, to sensation novels by Wilkie Collins, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Rhoda Broughton, and Charles Dickens. Feminine representation, Talairach-Vielmas argues, is actually presented in a hyper-realistic way in such anti-realistic genres as children's literature and sensation fiction. In fact, it is precisely the clash between fantasy and reality that enables the narratives to interrogate the real and re-create a new type of realism that exposes the normative constraints imposed to contain the female body. In her exploration of the female body and its representations, Talairach-Vielmas examines how Victorian fantasies and sensation novels deconstruct and reconstruct femininity; she focuses in particular on the links between the female characters and consumerism, and shows how these serve to illuminate the tensions underlying the representation of the Victorian ideal.


Book Synopsis Moulding the Female Body in Victorian Fairy Tales and Sensation Novels by : Laurence Talairach-Vielmas

Download or read book Moulding the Female Body in Victorian Fairy Tales and Sensation Novels written by Laurence Talairach-Vielmas and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-04-15 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Laurence Talairach-Vielmas explores Victorian representations of femininity in narratives that depart from mainstream realism, from fairy tales by George MacDonald, Lewis Carroll, Christina Rossetti, Juliana Horatia Ewing, and Jean Ingelow, to sensation novels by Wilkie Collins, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Rhoda Broughton, and Charles Dickens. Feminine representation, Talairach-Vielmas argues, is actually presented in a hyper-realistic way in such anti-realistic genres as children's literature and sensation fiction. In fact, it is precisely the clash between fantasy and reality that enables the narratives to interrogate the real and re-create a new type of realism that exposes the normative constraints imposed to contain the female body. In her exploration of the female body and its representations, Talairach-Vielmas examines how Victorian fantasies and sensation novels deconstruct and reconstruct femininity; she focuses in particular on the links between the female characters and consumerism, and shows how these serve to illuminate the tensions underlying the representation of the Victorian ideal.


J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan In and Out of Time

J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan In and Out of Time

Author: Donna R. White

Publisher: Scarecrow Press

Published: 2006-04-27

Total Pages: 367

ISBN-13: 1461659930

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Celebrating 100 years of Peter Pan, this fourth volume in the Centennial Studies series explores the cultural contents of Barrie's creation and the continuing impact of Peter Pan on children's literature and popular culture today, especially focusing on the fluctuations of time and narrative strategies.


Book Synopsis J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan In and Out of Time by : Donna R. White

Download or read book J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan In and Out of Time written by Donna R. White and published by Scarecrow Press. This book was released on 2006-04-27 with total page 367 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Celebrating 100 years of Peter Pan, this fourth volume in the Centennial Studies series explores the cultural contents of Barrie's creation and the continuing impact of Peter Pan on children's literature and popular culture today, especially focusing on the fluctuations of time and narrative strategies.


A Theology of Nonsense

A Theology of Nonsense

Author: Josephine Gabelman

Publisher: Lutterworth Press

Published: 2017-10-26

Total Pages: 238

ISBN-13: 0718847342

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There is within all theological utterances something of the ridiculous, perhaps more so in Christianity, given its proclivity for the paradoxical and the childlike. Few theologians are willing to discuss how consent to the Christian doctrine often requires a faith that goes beyond reason. There seems to be a fear that the association of theology with the absurd will give fuel to the sceptic's refrain: 'You can't seriously believe in all that nonsense.' Josephine Gabelman considers the legitimacy of the sceptic's objection and explores the possibility that an idea can be contrary to rationality and also true and meaningful using the systematic analysis of central stylistic features of literary non sense such as Lewis Carroll's Alice stories. Gabelman sets up a nonsense theology by considering the practical and evangelical ramifications of associating Christian faith with nonsense literature and, conversely, the value of relating theological principles to the study of literary nonsense.Ultimately, Gabelman says, faith is always a risk and a strictly rational apologetic misrepresents the nature of Christian truth.


Book Synopsis A Theology of Nonsense by : Josephine Gabelman

Download or read book A Theology of Nonsense written by Josephine Gabelman and published by Lutterworth Press. This book was released on 2017-10-26 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There is within all theological utterances something of the ridiculous, perhaps more so in Christianity, given its proclivity for the paradoxical and the childlike. Few theologians are willing to discuss how consent to the Christian doctrine often requires a faith that goes beyond reason. There seems to be a fear that the association of theology with the absurd will give fuel to the sceptic's refrain: 'You can't seriously believe in all that nonsense.' Josephine Gabelman considers the legitimacy of the sceptic's objection and explores the possibility that an idea can be contrary to rationality and also true and meaningful using the systematic analysis of central stylistic features of literary non sense such as Lewis Carroll's Alice stories. Gabelman sets up a nonsense theology by considering the practical and evangelical ramifications of associating Christian faith with nonsense literature and, conversely, the value of relating theological principles to the study of literary nonsense.Ultimately, Gabelman says, faith is always a risk and a strictly rational apologetic misrepresents the nature of Christian truth.


Children's Literature

Children's Literature

Author: Seth Lerer

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2009-04-01

Total Pages: 396

ISBN-13: 0226473023

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Ever since children have learned to read, there has been children’s literature. Children’s Literature charts the makings of the Western literary imagination from Aesop’s fables to Mother Goose, from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to Peter Pan, from Where the Wild Things Are to Harry Potter. The only single-volume work to capture the rich and diverse history of children’s literature in its full panorama, this extraordinary book reveals why J. R. R. Tolkien, Dr. Seuss, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Beatrix Potter, and many others, despite their divergent styles and subject matter, have all resonated with generations of readers. Children’s Literature is an exhilarating quest across centuries, continents, and genres to discover how, and why, we first fall in love with the written word. “Lerer has accomplished something magical. Unlike the many handbooks to children’s literature that synopsize, evaluate, or otherwise guide adults in the selection of materials for children, this work presents a true critical history of the genre. . . . Scholarly, erudite, and all but exhaustive, it is also entertaining and accessible. Lerer takes his subject seriously without making it dull.”—Library Journal (starred review) “Lerer’s history reminds us of the wealth of literature written during the past 2,600 years. . . . With his vast and multidimensional knowledge of literature, he underscores the vital role it plays in forming a child’s imagination. We are made, he suggests, by the books we read.”—San Francisco Chronicle “There are dazzling chapters on John Locke and Empire, and nonsense, and Darwin, but Lerer’s most interesting chapter focuses on girls’ fiction. . . . A brilliant series of readings.”—Diane Purkiss, Times Literary Supplement


Book Synopsis Children's Literature by : Seth Lerer

Download or read book Children's Literature written by Seth Lerer and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2009-04-01 with total page 396 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ever since children have learned to read, there has been children’s literature. Children’s Literature charts the makings of the Western literary imagination from Aesop’s fables to Mother Goose, from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to Peter Pan, from Where the Wild Things Are to Harry Potter. The only single-volume work to capture the rich and diverse history of children’s literature in its full panorama, this extraordinary book reveals why J. R. R. Tolkien, Dr. Seuss, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Beatrix Potter, and many others, despite their divergent styles and subject matter, have all resonated with generations of readers. Children’s Literature is an exhilarating quest across centuries, continents, and genres to discover how, and why, we first fall in love with the written word. “Lerer has accomplished something magical. Unlike the many handbooks to children’s literature that synopsize, evaluate, or otherwise guide adults in the selection of materials for children, this work presents a true critical history of the genre. . . . Scholarly, erudite, and all but exhaustive, it is also entertaining and accessible. Lerer takes his subject seriously without making it dull.”—Library Journal (starred review) “Lerer’s history reminds us of the wealth of literature written during the past 2,600 years. . . . With his vast and multidimensional knowledge of literature, he underscores the vital role it plays in forming a child’s imagination. We are made, he suggests, by the books we read.”—San Francisco Chronicle “There are dazzling chapters on John Locke and Empire, and nonsense, and Darwin, but Lerer’s most interesting chapter focuses on girls’ fiction. . . . A brilliant series of readings.”—Diane Purkiss, Times Literary Supplement


Haunted Childhoods in George MacDonald

Haunted Childhoods in George MacDonald

Author: John Patrick Pazdziora

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2020-08-25

Total Pages: 231

ISBN-13: 9004420614

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Haunted Childhoods in George MacDonald reconsiders the nature of death and divine love in the stories of one of Scotland’s most slyly subversive writers for children.


Book Synopsis Haunted Childhoods in George MacDonald by : John Patrick Pazdziora

Download or read book Haunted Childhoods in George MacDonald written by John Patrick Pazdziora and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2020-08-25 with total page 231 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Haunted Childhoods in George MacDonald reconsiders the nature of death and divine love in the stories of one of Scotland’s most slyly subversive writers for children.


The Place of Lewis Carroll in Children's Literature

The Place of Lewis Carroll in Children's Literature

Author: Jan Susina

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-02-01

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 1135254397

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In this volume, Jan Susina examines the importance of Lewis Carroll and his popular Alice books to the field of children’s literature. From a study of Carroll’s juvenilia to contemporary multimedia adaptations of Wonderland, Susina shows how the Alice books fit into the tradition of literary fairy tales and continue to influence children’s writers. In addition to examining Carroll’s books for children, these essays also explore his photographs of children, his letters to children, his ill-fated attempt to write for a dual audience of children and adults, and his lasting contributions to publishing. The book addresses the important, but overlooked facet of Carroll’s career as an astute entrepreneur who carefully developed an extensive Alice industry of books and non-book items based on the success of Wonderland, while rigorously defending his reputation as the originator of his distinctive style of children’s stories.


Book Synopsis The Place of Lewis Carroll in Children's Literature by : Jan Susina

Download or read book The Place of Lewis Carroll in Children's Literature written by Jan Susina and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-02-01 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this volume, Jan Susina examines the importance of Lewis Carroll and his popular Alice books to the field of children’s literature. From a study of Carroll’s juvenilia to contemporary multimedia adaptations of Wonderland, Susina shows how the Alice books fit into the tradition of literary fairy tales and continue to influence children’s writers. In addition to examining Carroll’s books for children, these essays also explore his photographs of children, his letters to children, his ill-fated attempt to write for a dual audience of children and adults, and his lasting contributions to publishing. The book addresses the important, but overlooked facet of Carroll’s career as an astute entrepreneur who carefully developed an extensive Alice industry of books and non-book items based on the success of Wonderland, while rigorously defending his reputation as the originator of his distinctive style of children’s stories.


Evolution and Imagination in Victorian Children's Literature

Evolution and Imagination in Victorian Children's Literature

Author: Jessica Straley

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2016-06-06

Total Pages: 271

ISBN-13: 1107127521

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An interdisciplinary study that explores the impact of evolutionary theory on Victorian children's literature.


Book Synopsis Evolution and Imagination in Victorian Children's Literature by : Jessica Straley

Download or read book Evolution and Imagination in Victorian Children's Literature written by Jessica Straley and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2016-06-06 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An interdisciplinary study that explores the impact of evolutionary theory on Victorian children's literature.