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History of Childrens Lit

The document discusses the history of children's literature from early beginnings to modern times. It covers the development of books from oral stories and lesson books created by monks to early primers, chapbooks, and picture books. Key periods mentioned include the Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, Puritan, and times of John Newberry and Hans Christian Andersen.

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Nicole Alessandra Radasa
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174 views25 pages

History of Childrens Lit

The document discusses the history of children's literature from early beginnings to modern times. It covers the development of books from oral stories and lesson books created by monks to early primers, chapbooks, and picture books. Key periods mentioned include the Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, Puritan, and times of John Newberry and Hans Christian Andersen.

Uploaded by

Nicole Alessandra Radasa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HISTORY OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

A knowledge of the historical background of


children’s literature through the ages helps us
understand the forces affecting the development of
children’s literature and their characteristics at different
periods.
The development of children’s literature reflect
the spirit and interests of the period.
History of Children’s Literature

Before the invention in the fifteenth century of


the printing press, which made books more widely
available, children listened to stories were about the
adventures of the older people, about animals, and
imaginary characters. These stories were passed on by
word of mouth from generation to generation before
they were collected.
EARLY BEGINNINGS: ANGLO-SAXON
PERIOD
As far back as the Anglo-Saxon Period, monks
and other learned men wrote “lesson books” for
children which were designed for teaching. Aldhelm
(640-709) was the first man to write children’s books.
Those books focused more on the contain and use of
the number seven in the bible, riddles, and puzzles in
Latin which children were asked to solve.
THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD

By the fifteenth century, books on manners and


morals began to appear in England by 1430. Books
about rules of behaviour for boys who trained to
become knights during the age of Chivalry were the
examples of books in that period.
ABC BOOKS

In the sixteenth century, ABC books or primers


appeared. They were used as a book of private devotions
in the Angelican Church. Henry VIII had ordered the
printing of both Catholic and protestant primers that
contained the alphabet and Christian principles. Thus, the
term primer came to be applied to all the first books for
children in school.
END OF SIXTEENTH CENTURY:
HORNBOOKS
 These books were about 3 by 4 ½ inches long and 2
inches wide. Capital letters followed by vowels and their
combinations with consonants were printed across the top.
The Lord’s Prayer was printed at the bottom. These books
could be hung around the necks of children. The horn books
were used to teach the alphabet and combination of letters
and to continue religious instruction.
SIXTEENTH CENTURY: CHAPBOOKS

In the sixteenth century, printing became cheaper. Single


sheets of paper printed on one side only called broadsides were
issued. The broadsides contained ballads of Robin Hood. In
1697 Charles Perault, a Frenchman, published his collection of
Tales entitled Comtes de Ma Mere L’ Oye or Tales of Mother
Goose. Translations of these tales were published separately as
chapbooks in England. These books were called chapbooks
because they were sold by itinerant peddlers called chapmen.
PURITAN PERIOD

 In England and America, books for children were


influenced by Puritan ideas. The books stressed fear of God,
religious instruction, and preparation for death which children
did not enjoy. Children read books that interested them
although the books were for adults like Gulliver’s Travels
(1726) and Aesop’s Fables.
BETWEEN 1683 AND 1691

 The New England Primer, a book made especially


for the children of the American colonies appeared. It
was a small book about 3 by 4 ½ inches and had about
100 pages. It contained the alphabet, words and
syllables for spelling lessons, the Lord’s prayer,
catechism, hymns and verses, rhymes for each letter of
alphabet.
FIRST PICTURE BOOK

 In 1658, the first picture book appeared. It was


known as Orbis Sensualum or Orbis Pictus (The World in
Pictures). It was invented by Johann Amos Comenius. He
believed in teaching children by letting them see things with
their own eyes. The book was originally written in Latin and
German, but was later translated by Charles Hooke in
England in 1664.
17TH CENTURY AND 18TH CENTURY
BOOKS

 Books in the seventeenth century stressed


religious and morals due to rise of Protestantism. Dr.
Issac Watts published Divine and Moral Songs for
Children. Some writers consider Issac Watts as the
starting point of history of children’s literature, and
“The Cradle Hymn” as the first children’s poem.
1746-1770: THE BATTLEDORE

. The battledore succeeded the hornbook. It was a 4


by 6 ½ three-leaved cardboard that folded like a
pocketbook. It had the alphabet and easy-reading matter
that made it popular until 1840.
JOHN NEWBERRY ERA

 John Newberry (1713-1767) was a writer and a publisher


who first thought of publishing book solely for children. He was
called the “father of children’s literature” for he conceived the idea
of publishing books for the enjoyment and entertainment of
children.
 In 1744, he published his Little Pretty Pocket Book, the first
book that can be really called a child’s book. He also publish a
collection of nursery rhymes, and called it Mother Goose Melody.
The Newberry Award was named after him in 1922.
THE DIDACTIC PERIOD

 Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) was a French


philosopher who started a new philosophy in the education
of children. His book Emile embodied the philosophy that
children be given freedom to develop their natural interests
and learn from the actual experience. He advocate that
children be taught the real things and the real world in which
they live.
THE RETURN OF FAIRYTALES OLD AND
NEW
 The influence of didacticism was unable to control
permanently children’s love for fairytales. The publication of
Grimms fairytales revived the interest for the imaginative
stories.

 Christian Andersen published his Fairy Tales in 1846.


He was regarded as the great master of children’s literature.
Among his tales were Thumbilina, Emperor’s New Clothes.
THE RETURN OF FAIRYTALES OLD AND
NEW

 Edward Lear’s Book of Nonsense marked the need


for laughter in the normal development of children.

 Lewis Carrollmade up stories for little children.


He called his collection of stories Alice in Wonderland.
REALISTIC LITERATURE

 This period was marked with the appearance of


stories of boys and girls in simple home situation,
stories of adventures, of brave men and women,
history and growth of countries, the wonder of nature
and science.

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