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Literary Criticism Children's Literature

Beowulf as Children's Literature

edited by Bruce Gilchrist & Britt Mize

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Dec 2021
Category
Children's Literature, Books & Reading, Medieval
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781487502706
    Publish Date
    Dec 2021
    List Price
    $84.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781487515850
    Publish Date
    Oct 2021
    List Price
    $84.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781487515843
    Publish Date
    Jul 2021
    List Price
    $80.00

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Description

The single largest category of Beowulf representation and adaptation, outside of direct translation of the poem, is children’s literature. Over the past century and a half, more than 150 new versions of Beowulf directed to child and teen audiences have appeared, in English and in many other languages. In this collection of original essays, Bruce Gilchrist and Britt Mize examine the history and processes of remaking Beowulf for young readers.

 

Inventive in their manipulations of story, tone, and genre, these adaptations require their authors to make countless decisions about what to include, exclude, emphasize, de-emphasize, and adjust. This volume considers the many forms of children’s literature, focusing primarily on picture books, illustrated storybooks, and youth novels, but taking account also of curricular aids, illustrated full translations of the poem, and songs. Contributors address issues of gender, historical context, war and violence, techniques of narration, education, and nationalism, investigating both the historical and theoretical dimensions of bringing Beowulf to child audiences.

About the authors

Bruce Gilchrist is a professor in the Department of English at CÉGEP John Abbott College.

Bruce Gilchrist's profile page

Britt Mize is an associate professor in the Department of English at Texas A&M University.

Britt Mize's profile page