Children's Literature has developed a great deal in the last 100 years. Books were written primarily for adults years ago. Most pieces that were for children were very harsh and religious. The majority of them told stories of children doing wrong and dying in some awful way as punishment. Now things that are meant for children are fun, humorous, exciting, magical, and full of imagery.
History Response Assignment:
1) What age would this literature been targeted for?
2) How were these poems used? Leisurely reading, in a classroom?
3) Was children’s poetry written differently than poetry for adults? That is, in language that children would better understand?
4) What was the purpose of these poems? To teach lessons?
Patterns:
Many of the poems mention rules for children, things they ought not do.
Examples:
History Response Assignment:
1) What age would this literature been targeted for?
2) How were these poems used? Leisurely reading, in a classroom?
3) Was children’s poetry written differently than poetry for adults? That is, in language that children would better understand?
4) What was the purpose of these poems? To teach lessons?
Patterns:
Many of the poems mention rules for children, things they ought not do.
Examples:
- The giddy Girl : “How naughty! to run to a dangerous well, Where her mother forbade her to go!”
- The New Book : “He shall look at the pictures, and find O and I, I’m sure he won’t tear it, he’s such a good boy.”
- A Boy’s Duty: “All good boys must read every day, What their teacher says obey”