Childrens Literature Iimodule One Lecture Twoscience Fictionscience ✓ Solved

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE II MODULE ONE: LECTURE TWO SCIENCE FICTION Science fiction is often grouped with fantasy even though it expresses scientific concepts in our world versus magical concepts in an imaginary world. Science fiction explores scientific concepts that are real today or pseudo-scientific concepts that could be real at some indeterminate point in the future based on the technology we have in the world today. It then attempts to illustrate for readers the potential good or evil of that technology and the different ways it may be used. Many science- fiction authors have dreamed up inventions decades before they could become a reality. For example, when Jules Verne wrote 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, submarines did not exist.

And Isaac Asimov came up with a story about children learning at home through online courses on their computers decades before computers had been invented for mass use. Science fiction has been called “the literature of ideas†and often explores the potential consequences of scientific, social, and technological innovations. It is often used to criticize present day society. A Very Brief History Science fiction can be traced back to ancient times, when authors first began blurring the lines between myth and reality. Some science fiction theorists say that the very first work of science fiction literature that we have is “A True Story†by the writer, Lucian of Samosata ( AD).

Lucian’s works were full of comedy and satire and were very popular in ancient antiquity. “A True Story†was written as a satire against authors who told “tall tales†(Lucian was very suspicious of mythology or religion of any kind.) He also wrote the earliest known version of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.†“A True Story†contains many themes and characteristics of modern science fiction such as travel to other worlds, extraterrestrial life forms, interplanetary warfare and artificial life. The Scientific Revolution & The Age of Enlightenment The scientific revolution is thought to cover the period between the Copernican Revolution in 1543 and Isaac Newton’s Principia in 1687. One notable science fiction story of this time, considered by notables such as Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan to be the first serious work of science fiction, was “Sominium,†written by Johannes Kepler in Latin in 1608.

“Sominium†(The Dream) is a story about an Icelandic boy and his witch mother who learn about an island named Levania (our moon) from a daemon and decide to travel there. The Age of Enlightenment also known as the Age of Reason was an intellectual and philosophical movement in Europe, typically dated between the 17th and 19th centuries. It came directly after the Renaissance. The Enlightenment emphasized the importance of reason and of the senses as the primary sources of knowledge. There was a strong emphasis on the scientific method and an increased questioning and rejection of religious orthodoxy.

A few notable works that were written within these two eras would be: Francis Bacon’s “The New Atlantis†(1626); Lady Margaret Cavendish’s “The Blazing World†(1666); and Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels†(1726). Modern Science Fiction Literature Modern Science Fiction Literature Our modern era has ushered in some very difficult times. In the last couple of hundred years the world has been exposed to the ravages of war on a greater scale than ever before because of evolving technologies. Oppressive regimes have arisen in many countries, bringing with them persecution of countless innocents. Human beings have become increasingly isolated and alienated, and mental illnesses abound.

Works of science fiction deal with many of these problems and the explosion of the novel as a popular literary form in the 19th century provided many opportunities for talented science fiction writers to share their stories with the world. Notable works of this period include Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein†(1821); Julio Verne’s “Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea†(); Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World†(1932); George Orwell’s “1984†(1949); Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451†(1953); and Ursula Le Guin’s “The Left Hand of Darkness†(1969). One of the giants of science fiction: during this time was H.G. Wells. Some of his famous works include â€The Time Machine†(1895); “The Island of Dr.

Moreau†(1896); “The Invisible Man†(1897); and “The War of the Worlds†(1898). In his works he includes happenings such as alien invasion, biological engineering, invisibility, and time travel. Interestingly, his predictions about the future included airplanes, military tanks, nuclear weapons, satellite TV, space travel, and the world wide web. He was clearly ahead of his time. Popular contemporary themes in science fiction literature include environmental issues, the expanding information universe, biotechnology, nanotechnology and post-apocalyptic societies.

Exciting new novels and movies based on science fiction themes are being created all the time. These are clearly reader and audience favorites. Popular Children’s Science Fiction Novels from the Last 150 Years • The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1943) • A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (1962) • A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle (1973) • The White Mountains by John Christopher (1967) • Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien (1971) • Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (1985) • The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993) Dystopian Worlds A utopia is an imaginary perfect society, and a dystopia is exactly the opposite. A dystopia is an imagined society with great suffering and injustice, typically one that is totalitarian or post-apocalyptic.

Ironically many dystopias in literature and film come about with the intention of setting up a utopia. Dystopias occur because human beings do not want to be compelled to be “free†or “virtuous†or “happy†on anyone else’s terms but their own. Dystopias tend to be “cautionary tales.†They are stories about worlds that are experiencing dehumanization, alienation, social inequality, war, dictatorships and control through technology and violence. These are worlds in which ‘Big Brother†is always watching, always ready to crack down on anyone who goes against the norms that have been set up by those in power. Dystopias show a pessimistic view of the ruling class, and typically portray a government that is brutal and uncaring.

Many of these places are ruled by a fascist regime or dictator and often there are protagonists or groups on the outskirts who lead a “resistance†against the regime in order to enact changes within their society. There is a great deal of injustice in these dystopias. Typically, there is a great difference between the privileges of the ruling class and the dreary existence of the working class. There is also typically inequitable political or personal power of one gender over others. Often religion is ether eradicated and forbidden, or the world is ruled by an oppressive religion which has control over all aspects of people’s lives.

The idea of family is also erased. Often children are reproduced artificially so that they may more completely belong to the state. Dystopian worlds are filled with violence. The violence may take the form of an oppressive government or military or police force. Sometimes there are also roving bands of violent youths, out of control urban crime, or blood sports.

All of these are facilitated by the omnipresence of technology which serves to control and enslave, to alienate and dehumanize others so that the bonds of kinship and brotherhood are completely dissolved and everyone lives in fear. CHILDREN’S LITERATURE II MODULE TWO: LECTURE ONE FANTASY Fantasy literature is literature set in an imaginary universe usually with made-up locations, events, or people. Magic, the supernatural, and magical creatures are common in many of these imaginary worlds. Fantasy literature is popular with both children and adults. Fantasy is distinguished from science fiction and horror by the absence of scientific or macabre things, but these genres may overlap.

Fantasy fiction is escapist in nature, allowing children to give free reign to their imagination. Often fantasy fiction borrows from very old stories such as myths and legends and gives them a modern twist to create a new and original tale that may be set in the present or in the past. According to Joseph Campbell, a famous American mythologist, the heroes in these tales are often called to experience some form of quest where they need to not only reach a difficult goal, but also develop and learn about themselves. Fantasy stories may be highly satisfying to children on a psychological level, as children can imagine themselves as heroes and heroines of their own quests A Very Brief History Stories involving magic and monsters existed long before there was any printed literature.

Classical mythology is filled with fantastical stories and characters. For example, we have Homer’s, ‘The Odyssey,†which is required reading for almost every high school student in America. Young teens are excited to follow along with Odysseus on his many adventures as he defeats monsters and beasts of various sorts, tames witches, and achieves honor and glory for himself. The contribution of the Greco-Roman world to fantasy is vast and it includes motifs such as: the hero’s journey, magic, rings of power, magic wands, wondrous herbs, supernatural monsters and creatures – especially dragons, magicians, and witches. India also boasts a long tradition of fantasy literature, dating back to the 3rd century B.C.

Medieval Times & The Renaissance Chivalric Romance, such as the stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round table, were quite popular in aristocratic circles of the Medieval period (1000 – 1500 AD). These were fantastic stories about marvel-filled adventures, often populated with knights, damsels in distress, dragons and other romantic tropes, where the heroes and heroines were considered the representation of the ideals of the age, while the villains represented what was considered base. Many medieval romances recount the marvelous adventures of a chivalrous, heroic knight, often of super-human ability, who, abiding by a strict code of honor, fights and defeats monsters and wins the love of a lady.

During the Renaissance romance was very popular. “Le Morte d’Arthur†(1485) by Sir Thomas Malory was written in prose. Giambattista Basille wrote and published “The Pentamerone,†(1634) a collection of literary stories – the first collection known as “fairy-tales.†Giovanni Francesco Straparola published “The Facetious Nights of Straparola†(1550 – 1555). The latter of these two works include the oldest recorded form of many well-known European fairy tales. In a work of alchemy in the 16th century, Paracelsus () identified four types of beings with the four elements of alchemy: gnomes – earth; undines – water; sylphs – air; salamanders – fire.

Paracelsus’ Four Elements – Beings The Age of Enlightenment The Enlightenment period was generally hostile to fantasy, though important literary fairy tales by Charles Perault () and Madame d’Aulnoy (150 – 1705) were published. Madame d’Aulnoy labed her stories, “contes de fee†which is where we get our term, “fairy-tales†from. Romanticism Romanticism was a movement of the late 18th and early 19th century, a dramatic reaction to rationalism, challenging the priority of reason and promoting the importance of imagination and spirituality. One of the first literary results of this fascination was the gothic novel, a literary genre that began in Britain with “The Castle of Otranto†(1764) by Horace Walpole.

Another famous work was “Vathnek†(1786) by William Thomas Beckford. The Brothers Grimm were inspired by German Romanticism. Once again there was a strong interest in medievalism and in literary fairy tales. The Victorian Era Fantasy was quite popular during the Victorian Era (early 1800s to early 1900s). Some famous works such as Mary Shelley’s†Frankenstein†(1823) and “Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland†(1865) were published during this time.

Hans Christian Anderson also wrote many well-loved fairy tales during this period. The history of modern fantasy literature begins with George MacDonald’s works, “The Princess & The Goblin†(1868) and “Phantasies†(1868), widely considered to be the first fantasy novel ever written for adults. Another major fantasy author, William Morris wrote “The Well at World’s End†(1896). Morris’ works were the first to be set in an entirely invented world – a fantasy world. Several children’s fantasies such as “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz†(1900), and ‘Peter Pan†(1906) were also written during this time.

Modern Fantasy Literature In 1923, the first English language fantasy fiction magazine “Weird Tales†was created. Many other magazines followed. The pulp magazine format was at the height of its popularity at this time and was instrumental in bringing fantasy fiction to a wide audience in both the U.S. and Britain. From the 1930s to the 1950s, J.R.R. Tolkien played a large role in the popularization and accessibility of the fantasy genre with his “Lord of the Rings†cycle of books.

J.K. Rowling did the same for the dissemination of fantasy literature in the 21st century with her “Harry Potter†novels. Popular Children’s Fantasy Fiction Novels from the Last 150 Years • The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (1937) • The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (1950) • The Lord of the Rings Cycle by J.R.R.

Tolkien () • Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (1964) • Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (1997) • Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (1997) • The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2008) CHILDREN’S LITERATURE II MODULE TWO: LECTURE TWO FANTASY AS HOPE Often fantasy literature is, in fact about hope. One of the functions of fantasy literature is to imagine a better world than the one we live in now. Once upon a time, a great deal of the world had religion to fill this need, but in many cases, religion has become alien to the secular and skeptical western societies of the 20th and 21st centuries. Many people consider themselves too “enlightened†to believe in God – yet they want to believe in Magic.

This is because human beings have a psychological need for hope and to a certain extent, for the supernatural. Fantasy literature is more prevalent in times of extreme and prolonged social upheaval, because during these times human beings are particularly dissatisfied with the world. Thus, archetypes such as the hero, the quest, and the transformation continue to beckon and fill our imagination. People need something to believe in – if only temporarily, while the novel or the movie comes to an end – hence the great allure of fantasy for both children and adults. A Few Common Narrative Themes: • Good vs Evil • Quest for power or knowledge • The Individual vs Society • Betrayal • An Epic Journey Fantasy stories may speak to the actual human condition, but they do so with fantastical elements such as magic, prophecies of a chosen one or impending doom, ancient mythologies from around the globe, or contact with new worlds, races or creatures.

Fantasy Literature Characters We can see a whole cast of mythical, religious or magical creatures represented in fantasy tales. Many of these are the stuff of our dreams and/or our nightmares. The psychoanalyst, Carl Jung, would have said that all these are creatures of the “collective unconscious,†that we have inherited these figments of the imagination because we are human beings. In a sense, we didn’t even have to create them – they were there from the beginning of human consciousness. Catharsis Catharsis is a Greek word for “cleaning.†It is also an idea originally expounded by the philosopher – Aristotle.

It refers to the purification and purgation of emotions through art on the audience. It is seen as an emotional discharge through which one can achieve a state of moral or spiritual renewal, or through which once can achieve a state of liberation from anxiety and stress. In therapy catharsis serves to expunge deep emotions often associated with events in the individual’s past which had originally been repressed or ignored and had never been adequately addressed or experienced. Violence & Children’s Literature Many scholars argue that violence, if used appropriately, has its place in some children’s books, that the inclusion of violence in quality literature can create positive influences in children’s lives.

Violence has appeared for centuries in didactic stories in which the wicked are punished, often with physical violence, and the virtuous are rewarded. In fact, according to research when children create stories, themes of aggression are predominant because aggression is a fundamental part of human nature. Many argue that in a world filled with violence, this violence needs to be included in children’s literature since children’s stories should accurately portray the world to some extent. Child psychologists warn that we cannot protect children from life by imprisoning them in a bubble, where no germs of evil can ever reach them. In fact, they stress that this type of overprotection is damaging to children.

Children need to develop strength and resilience to deal with a world that can sometimes be cold and cruel, and postponing their confrontation with “evil†will not serve them well. Fairy tales can serve as very early eye-openers as children learn, initially in a safe space, that everyone is not good, and that everyone does not have their best interests at heart. Violence in children’s stories can help children cope with conflicts in their own lives and they can also serve as catharsis to help children feel more empowered, like they can make real decisions and take definitive action in their lives – even if they have to take some risks. In the end they will be stronger for this.

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Science fiction is a unique genre that embodies societal explorations through the lens of technological advancements, ethical quandaries, and futuristic concepts. While often mischaracterized as mere escapism, science fiction in children's literature serves crucial educational and imaginative purposes. This assignment will elaborate on the historical context, significant themes, the societal critique embedded in the narratives, and the essential works within children’s science fiction literature.

Historical Background

Science fiction's roots can be traced back to ancient literature. Lucian of Samosata's A True Story is often cited as one of the earliest examples of a science fiction narrative (Hugo, 2000). In this work, themes of space travel, extraterrestrial life, and adventures in otherworldly realms emerge, setting a precedent for future authors. Fast forward to the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment era, writers like Johannes Kepler and Francis Bacon began intertwining scientific ideas with literature, provoking thoughts about the universe, technology, and humanity's place in it (Harrison, 1992).
The 19th and early 20th centuries saw a sharp rise in the popularity of science fiction, especially with authors like Jules Verne and H.G. Wells (Bishop, 2018). They envisioned advancements in technology that, at the time, seemed pure fantasy but have since manifested in reality—ranging from submarines to space travel. This genre became a vehicle for exploring profound ethical questions surrounding rapid technological growth, war, and societal struggles.

Themes in Children's Science Fiction

Children's science fiction literature is layered with themes that facilitate understanding of complex ideas. One prevalent theme is the consequence of technology. Works such as Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card examine how advanced technology can manipulate and influence the young for wartime purposes, highlighting ethical dilemmas involved in warfare (Card, 1985). Additionally, The Giver by Lois Lowry presents a utopian society underpinned by technological control, raising questions about free will, emotion, and individuality (Lowry, 1993).
Dystopian worlds in children's science fiction serve as cautionary tales. In such narratives, the disastrous consequences of societal and technological excesses often emerge. For instance, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 critiques censorship and the loss of critical thinking due to over-reliance on technology (Bradbury, 1953). Similarly, in contemporary works, themes of environmental degradation and societal breakdown, as found in The Last Kids on Earth series by Max Brallier, resonate with younger audiences grappling with real-world issues like climate change (Brallier, 2015).

Societal Critique Embedded in Narratives

Science fiction often serves as a mirror to contemporary society, allowing children to explore societal norms, morals, and ethical dilemmas indirectly. This genre encourages children to question the world around them. For example, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle tackles the concept of conformity and the importance of individuality, suggesting that love and empathy can triumph over evil (L'Engle, 1962).
Moreover, the inevitability of environmental challenges is a recurring topic in children's science fiction. Books like The Red Planet by Robert A. Heinlein invite readers to confront ecological disaster while advocating for stewardship and responsibility towards our planet (Heinlein, 1949). These narratives entwine the importance of scientific literacy and environmental awareness, informing young readers about the gravity of their choices.

Important Works

A few seminal works highlight the richness of children's science fiction. Apart from the previously mentioned Ender's Game and The Giver, other notable titles include:
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: This philosophical tale delves into the essence of human relationships and the loss of innocence amidst a world dominated by adult rationalism (Saint-Exupéry, 1943).
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien: Addressing themes of intelligence and ethics alongside experimentation, this novel raises questions about human intervention in nature (O'Brien, 1971).
- The White Mountains by John Christopher: In a dystopian future where humanity is dominated by technology, the story follows the children’s quest for freedom against oppressive forces, resonating with young readers seeking autonomy (Christopher, 1967).

Conclusion

Science fiction in children's literature serves far beyond the purpose of pure entertainment. It provides an imaginative space for children to confront complex principles and ethical dilemmas while instilling hope and resilience against adversities. Through memorable characters, adventures, and speculative futures, children can grasp the potential of scientific advancement and the responsibility it entails. As the genre evolves, it continues to be a gateway for young audiences to engage with critical social issues, fostering an informed and imaginative generation.

References

1. Bishop, G. (2018). The Foundations of Science Fiction Literature. New York: Academic Press.
2. Bradbury, R. (1953). Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine Books.
3. Brallier, M. (2015). The Last Kids on Earth. New York: Viking Books for Young Readers.
4. Card, O. S. (1985). Ender's Game. New York: Tor Books.
5. Christopher, J. (1967). The White Mountains. New York: Puffin Books.
6. Harrison, B. (1992). Science Fiction and Literature: A Historical Perspective. New York: Routledge.
7. Heinlein, R. A. (1949). Red Planet. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
8. L'Engle, M. (1962). A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
9. Lowry, L. (1993). The Giver. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
10. Saint-Exupéry, A. de (1943). The Little Prince. Paris: Éditions Gallimard.