Importance of Children’s Literature in enhancing intelligence
“A childhood without books – that would be no childhood. That would be like being shut out from the enchanted place where you can go and find the rarest kind of joy.”
The above lines of the famous author “Astrid Lindgren” speak volume about the importance of the Literature belonging to the genre of childhood ones. The early years of the lives of an individual often referred to by the name of childhood is the most impressionable time of their lives and therefore they are encouraged to read and indulge in other kinds of creative activities which are likely to further enhance the development of their brain and also intelligence. It is precisely here “that the genre of the children’s literature comes into prominence”. It is significant to note that “the various books related to the genre of the Children’s Literature not only provide a gateway to the children to pass their leisure time but also helps them in the process of the development of their intelligence”. This essay will shed light on the genre of Children’s Literature and its related aspects.
The “genre of Children’s Literature is also commonly known by the name of juvenile literature” and it generally includes stories, picture books, fables, poems, rhymes and others which are not only suitable for the children but also enjoyed by them. It is significant to note “that the genre of children’s literature is a very traditional one” but has rarely got the kind of attention which it deserves. In the ancient times the stories related to “the genre of the Children’s Literature” were transmitted from one generation to the other through the means of the “oral tradition”. However, the real change in the genre of Children’s Literature came in the 15th and the 16th century with the discovery of the method of printing. It is significant to note that at this particular period most of the literary works were written for the adults but later on they were modified for the children as well. The most important feature of the texts belonging “to the genre of Children’s Literature of this particular period of time” was the fact that “a large quantity of literature, often with a moral or religious message, has been aimed specifically at children”. Furthermore, the later part of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century is the period which is commonly called by the name of “Golden Age of Children’s Literature” as it was “during this particular period that some of the best works related to the genre of Children’s Literature were composed” and they are a part of the canon of Children’s Literature even in the present times. In the opinion of many people, “It was only in the 18th century, with the development of the concept of childhood, that a separate genre of children’s literature began to emerge, with its own divisions, expectations, and canon”. The opinion of the “French historian Philippe Ariès” articulated in the book “Centuries of Childhood” (1962) that “the modern concept of childhood only emerged in recent times”. It is a reflection of this that the children before the 15th century were made to read the various texts from “instructional and didactic texts for children written by clerics like the Venerable Bede and Ælfric of Eynsham and there was a lack of any genuine literature aimed specifically at children before the 18th century”. However, the real change in the scenario came about in the 19th century with the appearance of various kinds of literary works specifically designed for the children like “Lewis Carroll’s tale, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, “The Princess and the Goblin and its sequel The Princess and Curdie, by George MacDonald”, “Treasure Island and Kidnapped, both by Robert Louis Stevenson”, “Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book”, “J. M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy” and others.
The evolution of Children’s Literature from oral traditions to modern times
In the opinion of Dr Seuss articulated in the book “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!” “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”. This particular statement of Dr Seuss speaks volume about the importance of reading books not only amount the adults but also amount the children as well. Thus, the children from an early age are taught to read the various kings of story books, picture books and others which are likely to contribute in a significant manner not only to knowledge but also to their character as well. Another important purpose which the various books “related to the genre of children’s literature” serves is that it makes the children believe that this is a better place to live and that they can conquer the world if they do the right amount of hard work. In this particular context the lines of AA Milne from the Children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” is significant to note “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think”. The various “books related to the genre of children’s literature are not only a means for the children to spend their leisure time but also a source from which the various children can gather a substantial amount of faith as well as belief”. The lines of JM Barrie articulated in his famous work “Peter Pan” is “very significant to note in this particular context” when he says that “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it”. The opinion of Shiamin Kwa articulated in the work “Mulan” also reveal the same thing “The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all”. In the opinion of other people the “books related to the genre of Children’s Literature” is important as they make the children believe that they can achieve the goals as well as objectives set by them in the later part of their life. It is significant to note that this particular idea forms the lacuna of the majority of the books or the “literary works related to the genre of Children’s Literature”. The opinion of Dr. Seuss articulated in his famous work “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” is significant to note in this particular context when he says that “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose”. Furthermore, another significant feature of the “various books or the literary works related to the genre of Children’s Literature is the fact of their universality”. It is “significant to note that the use of these children’s books are not only limited to the children but also to the people belonging to the other ages as well”. In this particular context the opinion of C.S. Lewis is important to note when he says that “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest”. This particular statement of Lewis also gains prominence as in the recent times it is seen that many of the books “related to the genre of Children’s Literature” have been interpreted in ways that totally alien to the genre of Children’s Literature and more in proximity with the concept of Post-Modernism.
Golden Age of Children’s Literature
As already mentioned the “genre of Children’s Literature” had its origin in the various folk tales as well as the oral traditions of the people. Initially, this particular genre was not given much prominence and it is a reflection of that till the 15th century we do not have any examples of significant “works related to the genre of the Children’s Literature”. It is significant to note that even during this particular period the various literary works which were available to the children were the works related to the didactic and religious cannon. However, as mentioned the real development of this particular genre happened in the 19th and the 20th century. The introduction of the concept of modernism and postmodernism not only impacted the other genres of literature in a positive manner but this particular genre of literature as well and it is a reflection of this that the various kinds of picture books and others were made available to the various children for the first time. However, in the opinion of many people these picture books and the other literary works made available to the children for that matter where meant for the children as well as the adults and their meaning depended on the way it was interpreted by the person concerned.
To conclude, the genre of Children’s Literature has undergone much transformation in the recent times and it is a reflection of this that in the present times the range of options or the type of books which are available to the children are more in number than in the previous ages. It is significant to note that till the 15th century no significant work related to this particular genre was published and all the works were oral in tradition. Moreover, even after getting printed most of these works were either didactic in nature or had an inherent religious theme. The real change in the situation came about only in the 19th and 20th century.
References
Carpenter, Humphrey. Secret gardens: a study of the golden age of children’s literature. Faber & Faber, 2012.
Gamble, Nikki. Exploring Children’s Literature: Reading with Pleasure and Purpose. Sage, 2013.
McGillis, Roderick. Voices of the other: Children’s literature and the postcolonial context. Routledge, 2013.
Nikolajeva, Maria. Children’s literature comes of age: toward a new aesthetic. Vol. 4. Routledge, 2015.
Rudd, David, ed. The Routledge companion to children’s literature. Routledge, 2012.
Stephens, John, and Robyn McCallum. Retelling stories, framing culture: traditional story and metanarratives in children’s literature. Routledge, 2013.
Van Coillie, Jan, and Walter P. Verschueren. Children’s literature in translation: Challenges and strategies. Routledge, 2014.
Zipes, Jack. Relentless progress: the reconfiguration of children’s literature, fairy tales, and storytelling. Routledge, 2013.
Zipes, Jack. Sticks and stones: The troublesome success of children’s literature from Slovenly Peter to Harry Potter. Routledge, 2013.
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