The Rhetoric of Character in Children's Literature [Paperback]

Maria Nikolajeva (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0810848864 | ISBN-13: 978-0810848863 | Publication Date: January 1, 2002

Now available in paperback! Until now, there was no theoretical research of character in children's fiction and very few comprehensive theoretical studies of literary characters in general. In her latest intellectual foray, the author of From Mythic to Linear ponders the art of characterization. Through a variety of critical perspectives, she uncovers the essential differences between story ('what we are told') and discourse ('how we are told'), and carefully distinguishes between how these are employed in children's fiction and in general fiction. Yet another masterful work by a leading figure in contemporary criticism.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

How are characters revealed in a narrative? What devices or strategies are used? What can we learn from reading about them? These are some of the questions that Nikolajeva attempts to answer through her exploration of "the rhetoric of character. She argues that while critics, students, and scholars often cite the use of fine characterization in evaluating a novel, there is a lack of understanding and a dearth of critical material on the process by which authors create full-bodied figures. Nikolajeva explores the many approaches to an understanding of character--as an extension of the author's life, as a creation of reader response, as metaphor, as psychological allegory--and gives examples of characters from both classic and contemporary children's literature. She discusses the difficulties inherent in many questions that teachers pose to children and points out that there are many ways to answer such questions. An unsophisticated child, for example, might name Pooh as the main character in Winnie-the-Pooh while a more sophisticated university student may see Christopher Robin, with his slow maturation through the stories, as the protagonist. While many of her references are to classic novels, the study also cites more recent authors such as Katherine Paterson and Philip Pullman. In one particularly illuminating passage discussing the concept of collective protagonists, she compares the company of travelers in The Wizard of Oz to a similar questing group in the original Star Wars film, emphasizing the use of nonhuman supporting characters in fantasy. Ultimately, she concludes that characters cannot be studied as elements isolated from the narrative in which they are found, that setting and plot do much to inform character, and that characterization must be viewed within the context of the work as a whole. Written in a scholarly style, this study will be of greatest use in academic libraries and public libraries that support courses in children's literature at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Connie C. Rockman, Stratford Library Association, CT
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

One of the most scholarly treatments of children's literature available, this book makes a significant contribution to both the examination of children's literature and the theoretical study of literary character. It excels brilliantly on both levels. Accessible, free from jargon, and thoroughly usable, the book will be useful both to those used to more traditional discussions of static or flat character and to those more comfortable with the newer language of intersubjective character construction. Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above. (Choice )

As always, Nikolajeva's familiarity with a wide range of international literary theory and children's literature is apparent...a welcome survey of the literature and a starting place for future studies of aspects of character that have only been touched on here. (Children's Literature )

This study will be of greatest use in academic libraries and public libraries that support courses in children's literature at the undergraduate and graduate levels. (School Library Journal )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810848864
• ISBN-13: 978-0810848863
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,851,556 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Literary criticism, January 5, 2007

By 

Chrisa Kozanita (Athens, Greece) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Rhetoric of Character in Children's Literature (Paperback)

This book is a great help for those interested in children's literature. Focusing on literary characters and building arguments based on the solid theory of structuralism, it investigates a huge area which is so elegantly avoided by other critics. Congratulations to the author for her brilliant work.