Constructing Childhood: A Brief History of

Early Children’s Literature in Western

Civilization

What is “children’s literature?” What is “childhood?”

Meaning of “childhood” is ideological—socially constructed, constantly evolving

Books “for children” reflect dominant cultural ideals

Reinforce ideas about behavior, morality, gender roles, class structure, etc.—shape reader

Reflect ideological lens of writer, culture—not created in vacuum

Image: Rosemary Adcock, “Orphan Series”

Analyze children’s literature in order to . . . Uncover culture’s ideal views

of “childhood” Examine society’s concept of

self Interrogate individual author’s

relationship to broader cultural contexts

Viewed across time, provides insight into our own concepts of childhood and “normalcy”

Image: Arthur B. Houghton, Mother and Children Reading, 1860

The “Golden Age” of Children’s Literature

Ideology of the nuclear family takes shape in early 19th century

Home & family as haven in heartless world

Source of stability in increasingly materialistic, fractious world

Powerful “cult of childhood”—child as icon of “lost” innocence, emblematic of past golden age of humanity

Tensions: hierarchies, gender, class, race, literary marketplace

What did “childhood” mean? Historical Highlights

400 years ago: children born in state of sin ; childhood reading about religious guidance, indoctrination

250-300 years ago: “invention of childhood” as modern concept; children’s minds “a blank slate”—fill with proper information—logical, didactic texts

200 years ago: children naturally innocent; moral compass to society—imaginative texts

40 years ago: children need to read about harsh realities of life

Protestantism & Roots of “Modern Childhood” (17th & early 18th centuries)

Ideal of universal literacy; importance of print culture

Children products of original sin; prepare for adult religious experience

Instructional books, conduct books Primers: teach reading, but also turn

innately sinful children into spiritual beings

Themes of death, damnation, conversion

Image: From New England Primer, circa 1690

A little light bedtime reading . . .

Popular reading for Protestant children: Book of Martyrs (1563); The Day of Doom (1662)

Anti-Catholic account of “Bloody Mary” reign

Poem of damnation of world

Horrific scenes of violence, mutilation, murder

Images: Thomas Foxe, Book of Martyrs, 1563; Michael Wigglesworth, The Day of Doom, 1662

The Enlightenment (late 17th, 18th centuries): Enter Modern Childhood

John Locke (1632-1704) Some Thoughts Concerning

Education (1693) Young mind as tabula rasa (blank

slate) Children not burdened by original sin Logical beings awaiting proper

education—rational writings Whole new construction of childhood

—distinct phase of life Image: John Locke

18th Century Groundbreakers

John Newbery Bookseller/publisher Little Pretty Pocket Book

(1744) — first significant story book specifically for children

Songs, poems, moral tales, illustrations

Instruct AND entertain

Image: John Newbery, Little Pretty Pocket Book, 1744

18th Century Groundbreakers

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Emile (1755)—Children

should be raised in natural settings, free to imagine

Children naturally innocent, moral – “The child is the father of the man” (Wordsworth)

Books should free children’s imaginations

Romantics influence writers of Golden Age

Image: Jean-Jacques Rousseau