◆Study: M. A. Sem. 4
◆Subject: 13 -The new Literature
◆Topic: What is children Literature? How far does the ◆Harry Potter novels qualify for children Literature?
◆Department of English MKBU.
◆Guide: professor Dilip Barad sir
◆Assignment, by Prinjal Shiyal
In the 21st century people noticed this how slowly some perceptions are changing because of new ways of looking Literature and that's why here I'm going to discussing about the 'children literature' and how far does J. K. Rowling's series of novels "Harry Potter" qualify for children literature. First what is children literature? Children are very curious to know about the fairy tales, lullabies, fables, folk songs, and other primarily orally transmitted materials because all works are in form of short, simple and easy to understand for children. Children’s literature first clearly emerged as a distinct and independent form of literature in the second half of the 18th century, before which it had been at best only in an embryonic stage. During the 20th century, however, its growth has been so luxuriant as to make defensible its claim to be regarded with the respect though perhaps not the solemnity that is due any other recognized branch of literature.
Generally children literature based on imagination, magical world and super natural power and that is the curious thing's for children in the present century. As we know that many comprehensive histories of literature slightly or omit the child’s reading interests. Many observers have made explicit the suspicion that children’s literature, like that of detection or suspense, is “inferior.” They cannot detect a sufficiently long “tradition”; distinguish an adequate number of master works; or find, to use on thoughtful critic’s words, “style, sensibility, vision.” Somehow, 'Children's literature' or 'juvenile literature' includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are made for children and they are very curious and interested to know about all those things. We know 'Modern children's literature' is classified in two different ways, one is genre or the intended age of the reader and both are very effective on the children's literature.
◆Examples of genre:
- Biographies
- Biography
- Children's poetry
- Children's stories
- Fables
- Fairy tales
- Fantasy fiction
- Fiction
- Folklore
- Historical fiction
- History
- Juvenile works
- Juvenile fiction
- Science fiction
- Young adult fiction
◆ Definition:
"Children's Literature is often defined as material written or produced for the information or entertainment of children or young adults. It includes all literary, artistic genres and physical formats."
Children's literature includes all non-fiction, literary and artistic genres and physical formats and so on. In the early days of the Library of Congress, children's books arrived in an unsystematic fashion but, in present time there are many parts are available for the children's literature. There is no single or widely used definition of children's literature. It can be broadly defined as the body of written works and accompanying illustrations produced in order to entertain or instruct young people. And somehow children literature's main intention to entertain children and give them knowledge with joy and happiness. Children's literature is valuable in providing an opportunity to respond to literature, as well as cultural knowledge, emotional intelligence and creativity, social and personality development, and literature history to students across generations. So, this are main ambitions or aims for children and literature gives them enlightenment.
Children's literature are more relevant to their choices, dreams, aims, and they easily get satisfaction from this types of literature. Because, as other forms of literature, children's literature grew from stories passed down orally from generation to generation and this types of oral activities they remember easily and remember for long time. For example, Irish folk tales can be traced back as early as 400 BCE, while the earliest written folk- tales are arguably the Pachatantra, from India, which were written around 200 AD. That is the difference between ancient and new form of children's literature.
◆Why is fantasy important in children's literature?
Imagination is powerful in the children's mind and they are constantly thinking about some new ways to get happiness from reality to imagination and they have some new and innovative ideas about how to solve some problems, for happiness and so on. Although non- fiction and informative reading are an important skill, kids who read fantasy novels on a regular basis are more likely to express and explore their imagination, which is an essential element to childhood.
"Literature teaches us how to live."
Literature makes the reader visit places, experience events, meet people, listen to them, feel their joys and sufferings. It takes years to acquire so much wisdom that a single book of literary merit instills in a reader. Literature mirrors the society and its mannerisms. Literature is the first step of better future for children and than they constantly get more experiences form the literature.
- Friendship
- Relationship
- Social and cultural
- Race
- Culture
- Family
- Self help
- Morality
- Virtue
- Good
- Magic
- Love
- Respect
- Morality of human being
- Reality and imagination
- Dreams
- Goals etc…
◆How far does the Harry Potter novel qualify for children Literature?
"Harry Potter" qualify for children's literature because, it had ability to convince children to young people and this books give them knowledge with magic and entertainment. Hillary Crew suggests that the series has been “magic” for many young people who have, over a number of years, whittled their own wands, dressed up in “invisible capes” and acted out their own versions while going on to read a great deal more of everything. Kids are not the only ones who have read and reread these books with passion. J. K. Rowling's novels are very interests for all because it will be logical and magical. One lived example, GraceAnne DeCandido from Rutgers, for example, fell in love with Harry Potter while reading the review copy of the first book long before hype or movies and has read all seven books multiple times. It happens with children also because there are magical world, imagination, dreams, protagonist character is powerful and there are many people whose belongs to different countries.
J. K. Rowling's novels are focus on magical power and imagination rather realistic world.For example, There are some characters connections like, the number of the book is 7 (seven) and it has some logical reasons behind it. Seven itself is the most powerful magical number, based on centuries of mythology, science and math. Harry Potter was to be released on 07-07-2007 also the day was 7-Saturday but was released on 21st July. Seven is the age by which most experts believe that the magic will reveal itself in a wizard or which in Hogwarts school of witchcraft and Wizardry community. It is also the number of years student must attend Hogwarts before graduating. Philosopher’s stone had seven chambers for protection. Voldemort divided his soul in seven Horcroxes. Ginny Weasley is the first girl born to the Weasleys in seven generations and she is the seventh child too.In the context of magic of character and logic behind it are acceptable for children's literature. On this parameter this is qualify as children's literature.
Rowling's first two novels, to be extremely derivative because, there Social, political, economical, gender differences, feminism, imagination, dreams and some other elements are effective for this interesting novels. Seven parts are very relevant to childhood and that's why all parts are more interesting for children and it is one reason for Harry Potter is quality as children's literature.
Love, Death, Invisibility, Leadership, Good v/s. Evil, Magical powers, Imaginary world, Dreams, Reality v/s. Fantasy and so on.
Another example that can be looked at from the series is the protagonist, Harry Potter. The first book alone deals with a double murder of the parents of Harry who leave their baby as an orphan of war. He then grows up in abusive conditions, sleeping in a broom closet,whilst living with the Dursley’s.
Once Harry starts at Hogwarts he’s exposed to a society that focuses on the class system. There are three main social classes within the wizarding world of Harry Potter. There are the pure bloods, half-bloods, and the muggle born (mudblood).
Pure blood wizards are those with a purely magical lineage, half-blood wizards usually have one magical parent and one muggle parent, and muggle born wizards were born to two muggle parents.
Some pure blood wizards (the Malfoy family, for example) tend look down on those who are of less-pure bloodlines, thus creating hatred. Racism is central within Hogwarts with signified by the use of terms such as ‘mudblood’. Ron Weasley is a pure blood, Harry Potter is a half blood, and Hermione Granger is a muggle born. As Ron associates himself with ‘half-bloods’ and ‘muggles’ he’s also looked down upon, especially by the Slytherin’s who class him as a traitor. Throughout the hierarchy of magical blood and creatures J.K. Rowling creates an entire world of class and prejudices.
It isn't just the human characters who are subject to racist treatment. There are magical creatures that are seen as unimportant; for example, house-elves and giants are seen as dim-witted creatures. Furthermore, despite house-elves possessing considerable power, they are servants to wizarding families. House-elves are slaves however they seem to love serving their masters as Dobby does the Malfoys. However, what disgusts most characters, and readers, is how no-one seems to care about his mistreatment. House-elves are required to stay loyal to their families even when the families are evil and cruel. One thing's for certain however, the Harry Potter phenomenon will continue to rise in popularity. As each generation comes to start the series afresh, so do another set of thoughts and conclusions. Maybe one day the series will be classed as a classic within its own rights and J.K. Rowling Will listed along with Shakespeare and Austen. So, this types of all parts are interconnected and it will become very interesting for readers. Harry Potter is interesting for children because, when magic and reality both are come together and than it will be very fruitful for children.
“Harry Potter changed everything. Suddenly, publishers woke up to the idea that children’s literature was not something that was just read by children, but – crucially – was read by everyone. And the children who grew up reading Harry Potter went on to read children’s books as adults, which is one of the reasons the children’s market is seeing such huge growth.”
As a mystery story, the plotting of the novel is highly skil-full. Rowling maintains a perfect balance between providing clues for her readers and maintaining the secret of the novel. There are some places in which they confront darkness and gain greater awareness of life.
◆Sum up:
These underworld explorers attain new levels of wisdom, self-knowledge, and maturity after delving below the surface. Like his literary ancestors, Harry develops new-found initiative and courage by descending into the dark realm. So, there are many possibilities to qualify this series as children's literature.
◆ Citation:
Word count:
1,875
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