Molly Bang Paper When thinking of this assignment, I immediately knew which book I was going to choose. I felt that choosing a favorite book from my childhood could be a fun way to see the differences in how I viewed it then, and how I might view it today. As a child, I was in love with Mercer Mayer’s “Little Critter” books (and still am today). I decided not to go searching for an easy or popular book, rather I wanted to take one I know and love and see if/how Molly Bang’s principles were applied.…
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. As the pages of my favorite childhood story flutter through my fingers, memories of fantastical worlds flood my mind. I begin to read aloud about the four children, sent away to a mysterious house and the wardrobe that transports them to a magical new land. The tale is just as enchanting as I recall, but this time through the story, the magic I appreciate most is not found in the pages of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.…
Oil Patch Wife Pens Autobiography to Preserve Family History The author feels the need for her grandchildren to know their family history, so she shares her story to help them know where they came from. Being a missionary kid and globe-trotting oil patch wife, Ruth Nave Leibbrand has lots of family stories to share with her grandchildren, and she would like them to trace the origins of their family. For this reason, Leibbrand turns her stories and recollections – the highlights of her family – into a cohesive book titled Full Circle (AuthorHouse, 2015).…
This excerpt from Ralph Nader’s The Seventeen Traditions: Lessons from an American Childhood depicts the significance of the traditions of history, education and argument, and civics as well as express how these concepts are connected. While Nadar experienced these things as a child and his narrative refers to events when he is younger, these virtues are vital to the engage citizens to actively participate in government and impact their communities. To gain more aware and active citizens, these citizens must be equipped with history. In Nadar’s writing, history takes the form of stories and experiences of past places and peoples. As Nadar and his family visited their native country, they “absorbed the cultural history of custom, myth, folklore, festivities, food, humor, and religion ” (52).…
There is a subtle, inward satisfaction in picking up details initially missed the first time you read a book or watch a movie. Appreciating the hidden adult jokes in Disney classics or understanding the significance of George Orwell’s 1984 feels like a measurement of growth of one’s maturity and life experiences. Theresa Krauskopf’s essay entitled “On Second Glance” explores that feeling of enjoyment that comes from rediscovering something that was little appreciated in youth. Readers will be able to relate to the struggle Krauskopf had with her first reading of Lord of the Rings and her feelings revisiting the series several years later. With that being noted, her essay would have benefitted from more detail on “magic touch” and clarification…
My topic for the research paper will be on The Oryx Multicultural Folktale Series: Cinderella by Judy Sierra. This anthology has 24 versions of the Cinderella folktale from around the world, representing a broad range of cultures, geographical areas, styles, and variations on a basic premise. For this research essay, I plan on contrasting the themes and symbols between some of the stories as well as on how the cultures play a role in them. One of my comparisons would probably include Disney’s version of Cinderella to the original French version of Cinderella. In addition, I may look into the censorship of some these fairy tales.…
Establishing an Authentic Aboriginal Voice in Picture books If a strong literature based on Aboriginal forms is to develop, the place for this development is among people least affected by assimilation, and once an upsurge of literature begins it is only a matter of conjecture where it may lead. In fact, future Aborigines may look back on this present settlement literature as having lost simplicity, or a complexity only brought out through a deep reading of the text (Mudrooroo 315). Developing an authentic and complex Aboriginal voice, separate from the ideals of the colony, may be an ongoing process for adult literature. However, the same struggle is less methodical for children 's picture books as Fanon 's three phases of establishing…
No author is better celebrated in the fairytale world today than the Grimm brothers, whose publication of countless preexisting fairytales marked the fairytale genres transition from storytelling into literary text. Recognized as the standard source upon which our societies knowledge of German folklore is based (The Reception of Grimm Fairy Tales), the final edition of their work published remains ever present an influence for both readers and collectors alike. Yet, the translation of their work that remains in publication and is praised by society today is not how they originally intended for their work to appear. When Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published their first edition of a two-volume set of German fairytales titled “Children and Household Tales” in 1812, they didn’t shy from intensifying the gore and sexual intrigue that the stories they collected already exhibited. Originally voiced in a manor that would teach critical lessons and pass on cultural values and wisdom to younger generations, fairytales were crafted into dark and impressive stories meant to frighten children into compliance (Societies Influence on Grimms Fairytales).…
Common Themes in Children's Books Bebe Goes Shopping by Susan Middleton Elya is about a small child who goes shopping with his mother. The child is restless and uncontrollable until he is given animal crackers to distract him. The second book, The Day Dirk Yeller Came to Town by Mary Casanova is about a restless outlaw named Dirk Yeller searching for a way to settle his restlessness. The common theme between the two books is that people need something to do with their time and energy to entertain them no matter if they are a baby or a cowboy.…
with the capitalist system and its promises of a better life. Transition from socialism to democracy and capitalist system have been perceived negatively for a good amount of the Eastern European population due to severe unemployment rate, economic stagnation and job insecurity. For almost the majority of the interviewees, the socialist system provided better education, economic development and a more reliable health system. Economies in Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Estonia, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Slovenia are in fact considered in some cases to be growing slowly and ‘not converging with the pre-2004 EU members’. Soviet nostalgia in Eastern Europe can also be used as a tool to explain another example of the…
Social background and culture no doubt are the major factors affecting story elements. This paper will compare how social background and culture affect the way of expression in Western and Chinese children’s fantasy literature when two stories having the same elements, by comparing Cinderella and Ye Xian(葉限). Ye Xian is a Chinese fairy tale written by Duan Chengshi(段成式) in Tang dynasty compilation Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang(酉陽雜俎). It is one of the oldest known variants of Cinderella, where Cinderella was published in 1812. When comparing Ye Xian and Cinderella we can easily found out that both are strikingly similar in themes and plots, although written in different era and country, they reflect a common theme: good people are rewarded,…
Towards the end of World War II, many colonized countries began rebellions against their imperial colonizers and some were successful in gaining independence. Most notably, India, was led by a revolutionist, Mahatma Gandhi, who sought and won the Indian Independence movement in British-ruled India. While the world saw this politically unstable atmosphere of colonized locations gaining their freedom; the populace of these imperial nations found themselves thrust into the ethical foray of granting independence to colonized nations. Meanwhile, the world stood and took notice of how a country, such as India, was able to seek out and win their independence from Britain and soon other national rebellions ensued. Herein, C.S Lewis began writing a…
A young boy sits on the floor gazing up in amusement as his parents tell him stories that have traveled from generation to generation. Whether it be a tale of malicious war or brave acts of heroism, the little boy will always remember the impactful tales. But what about the parents; what is their motive for telling tales to their child? People tell stories for different reasons; a best selling author may write his story to sell books. While a parent tells a story to set their child straight, others simply want the thrill of telling tales of their adventurous life.…
(M)People conform to terrible things for the main reason of majority rule, If everybody does something most people will assume it is the right thing to do with little question. (E) The short stories we read, both times everybody conformed to the authority figure. During the lottery an innocent woman was killed Because it was normal it happens often and it was their way of life. The children's story was different from that, the children's story showed how easily convinced people can be if they look up to someone.…
Fairy Tales are an important means used to teach life’s basic truths to children. These stories contain deep moral beliefs that sculpt basic understanding of right and wrong for society. Throughout time they have been adapted to a more child friendly form, even so that the film industry now bases child-oriented movies on classic fairy tales. Fairy tales, such as Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid”, appeal to a sense of romance, adventure, and the fight between good and evil. Society supports retelling the fairy tales because they support traditional moral values society desires its children to learn.…