LT212-5-SP-CO:
Children's Fiction and the Turn to Young Adult Adventure
2024/25
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
21 August 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
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This module introduces the history of children's adventure stories, and explores the emergence of the multi-novel "Young Adult" genre that dominates bookshelves and literary conventions today. The module begins with the 18th century morality tale, and moves through the Victorian period of classic Children's literature, to culminate in a study of Lewis and Tolkien as founders of the modern form.
The module will explore how young readerships are constructed over time, and examine trends in adventure writing for young readers. The questions "what is an adventure?" And "what is special about young audiences?" will be addressed throughout the term.
In addition to thinking about the emergence of young adult literature as a genre in its own right, this module will examine the construction of narrative and voice in each text, as a means of examining the process of world-building in literary fiction.
This module aims
- To foster students’ historical understanding of the Young Adult form
- To offer a detailed exploration of the genres of fantasy and the morality tale.
- To discuss trans-atlantic discrepancies and assonances across the history of children’s fiction. The literary character of writing for young readers will be explored in depth, giving students a concrete grounding in the background of contemporary popular fiction.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Display a detailed knowledge of the history of the morality tale and of children’s adventure fiction.
- Understand the key aspects of world-building in fantasy narratives.
- Articulate the relationship between children’s and Young Adult fiction.
- Understand and critically engage with the history of allegory as integral part of children’s fiction.
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered via:
- two-hour seminars, which include
- creative writing workshops
Students can find information about the content and format of each week on Moodle.
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Rushdie, S. (1999) Haroun and the sea of stories. London: Puffin.
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Cooper, S. (2023) Over Sea, Under Stone. Reissue ed. Margaret K. McElderry Books.
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Tolkien, J.R.R. (2009) The hobbit.
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Toelken, B. (2001) Hopi Animal Stories. Edited by E. Malotki. Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press.
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Mhlophe, G. and Griffin, R. (2017)
African Tales. Bath: Barefoot Books Ltd. Available at:
http://link.overdrive.com/?websiteID=110236&titleID=9219489.
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Madiba Magic (2002). Cape Town: Tafelberg Publishers Ltd.
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Adams, R. and Parkins, D. (2023) Watership Down. Penguin Random House Children’s UK.
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Orji, D. (2020) Children of the Benin Kingdom. Edited by S. McGilchrist. London: Dinosaur Books Ltd.
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Rose, L. (2022) Upwelling. Digital original. Sydney: Hachette Australia.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Coursework |
Essay plan or creative project outline (850 words) |
04/04/2025 |
30% |
Coursework |
Critical Essay or Creative Assignment (2,500 words) |
16/05/2025 |
65% |
Practical |
Participation mark |
|
5% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Jordan Savage, email: jksava@essex.ac.uk.
tbc
LiFTS General Office – liftstt@essex.ac.uk
Tel. 01206 872626
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dr Doug Haynes
University of Sussex
Reader in American Literature and Visual Culture
Available via Moodle
Of 10 hours, 10 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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