Historical models of childhood:

How children are perceived and presented in children’s literature

A number of competing
models or
conceptualizations of
children and childhood
affects how children are
perceived and treated.
These models rarely
operate in isolation and
they have overlapping
concepts.
Remember that fictional characters are often less
complex than real people, so these models may
seem limited.

Also, these models may overlap. (For example, the

working child may have many characteristics in
common with the child as miniature adult.)
Historical models of childhood:

Romantic Sinful Working

Child Child Child

Sacred Radically Miniature

Child Other Adult
The Romantic Child
Historical Models of Childhood
 Romanticism
• An ideology characterized by an emphasis on
emotion, individualism, and nature.

• “Romanticism” is often used to describe a

philosophical, literary, or artistic movement/period.
 Romantic Child
• The “Romantic Child” has little to do with being
“romantic” as we might think about love.

• Instead, the view of the “Romantic Child” has to do with

innocence, emotion, and personal experience.
 Romantic Child
Some romantics see Other romantics see children
as naturally happy, carefree,
children as blank slates, innocent, and pure, thus
(“tabula rasa”) ready to likely to be disappointed and
be molded by adults. corrupted by maturity.
John Locke (1632-1704)

• English philosopher and

physician

• wrote An Essay
Concerning Human
Understanding (1689)

• presented children as
“blank slates” who learn
by experience.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

• Genevan philosopher and writer

• wrote Émile, or On Education

(1762) a novel

• emphasized the importance of

natural education, where learning
comes from direct experience
rather than formal academic
instruction
Examples of the Romantic Child in Literature

• The next few slides present children’s literature

where child characters often start their narratives
as relatively unformed individuals.

• Through their stories, they learn, grow, and are

shaped by their experiences, reflecting the
philosophical concept of “tabula rasa.”
 Examples of the Romantic Child in Literature
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll
Protagonist Alice is the epitome of childhood
innocence and curiosity, as she navigates a
fantastical world that challenges her
understanding and perceptions.
Anne of Green Gables
by L.M. Montgomery
Protagonist Anne Shirley, with her imagination
and naivety, embodies the innocent
enthusiasm and zest for life of a child.
Examples of the Romantic Child in Literature

Corduroy by Don Freeman The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

The titular character, a teddy bear
named Corduroy, displays
innocence and a desire to be
loved and find a home, reflecting
a child-like purity.
Peter, the young protagonist,
experiences the wonder of a
snowy day in the city. His innocent
exploration reflects the blank
slate of childhood, encountering
and learning from simple
experiences.
Examples of the Romantic Child in Literature

Harold and the Purple Crayon The Tale of Peter Rabbit

by Crockett Johnson by Beatrix Potter

Harold creates his world with Peter Rabbit's misadventures

his crayon, showing how a in Mr. McGregor's garden
child's pure, innocent reflect the naive curiosity
imagination can shape their and impulsiveness of a child.
reality.
The Sinful Child
Historical Models of Childhood
 Sinful Child

Puritan theology saw children as naturally

wild and unrefined, easily swayed to do
wrong, susceptible to evil.
Sinful Child

The sinful child model

presents children as
naturally sinful and in
need of discipline and
training to become
purer and closer to
God.
 Sinful Child
Sinful child characters
challenge the reader's
perceptions of childhood as a
time of innocence and
simplicity.

Portrayal of children in
literature can be complex and
varied, as not all children fit a
“pure and innocent” profile.
 Sinful Child

The evil or sinful child continues to

appear in the form of characters who are
bullies, criminals, or rivals.
Examples of the Sinful Child in Literature

• The next few slides present children’s literature

where child characters are mischievous or
rebellious.

• Through their stories, they present darker traits

and complex emotions and behaviors that do not fit
the mold of children eager to please adults.
 Examples of the Sinful Child in Literature
Lord of the Flies
by William Golding:
Children stranded on an island show their
savagery and cruelty. Characters like Jack and
Roger become symbols of the evil and
brutality that can emerge in the absence of
societal constraints.
The Bad Seed
by William March:
Rhoda Penmark, the central character, is a
young girl who is seemingly perfect but
harbors a deeply malevolent and sociopathic
nature.
 Examples of the Sinful Child in Literature
Where the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak:
Max is sent to bed without his
supper for causing mischief in a
wolf costume and talking back to
his mother. In his imaginary world,
he learns about consequences and
control.
Horrid Henry series
by Francesca Simon
Henry is a child who is often
in trouble, opposing any form
of authority and constantly at
odds with his parents and
teachers.
The Working Child
Historical Models of Childhood
 Working Child
The working child model presents children as useful and
necessary contributors to the household, practical
additions to families, and needed sources of labor.
Working Child

Children were obligated

to earn their keep, and
owed their families
their labor as gratitude
for their very lives.
 Working Child

Children were basically

small versions of
adults, performing the
same tasks as adults,
dressing the same as
adults, eating the
same foods as adults,
with nothing specially
made for children.
 Working Child
Children were not seen as precious objects to
be coddled, but as contributors to the
household. In large families, everyone was
expected to contribute and pull their weight.
Examples of the Working Child in Literature

• The next few slides present children’s literature

where child characters are expected to work and
contribute to society.

• Through their stories, they demonstrate how

children were viewed as productive and useful
rather than in need of protection and coddling.
 Examples of the Working Child in Literature

The Little House on the Heidi

Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder by Johanna Spyri

These stories often depict Laura
and her siblings helping with farm
work, household chores, and other
responsibilities essential for their
family's survival on the frontier.
Heidi helps her grandfather with
chores around the house and later,
when living in the city, she takes
on the responsibility of companion
and caregiver to Clara.
 Examples of the Working Child in Literature
The Whipping Boy by Sid
Fleischman: Thisnovel features a
young boy employed as a
whipping boy, taking punishments
for a royal prince, a concept based
on an actual historical practice.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by Betty Smith: Francie
Nolan, the
protagonist, works from a
young age to help support
her family, despite the
hardships of poverty.
The Sacred Child
Historical Models of Childhood
Sacred Child

The sacred child is seen as

having special gifts and abilities
due to prophecy, destiny,
inherent wisdom, or mystical
qualities.

Such characters often play

pivotal roles in any narrative,
symbolizing hope, purity, or a
transformative power.
 Sacred Child

Some of these
children have a
special quest or
mission in life, and
their special powers
fade as they grow
into adulthood.
 Sacred Child

The sacred child often embodies themes of

redemption, hope, and transformation, influencing
not only their immediate environment but often the
fate of entire worlds or societies.
Examples of the Sacred Child in Literature

• The next few slides present children’s

literature where child characters are sacred
types with special abilities.

Sometimes these children fulfill a destiny or even

save the adult world from peril.
 Examples of the Sacred Child in Literature
Harry Potter series
by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter is a prime example of a sacred
child, known as "The Boy Who Lived." His
survival from a deadly curse when he was a
baby sets him apart and places him at the
center of a prophecy concerning the defeat of
the dark wizard Voldemort.
The Chronicles of Narnia
by C.S. Lewis:
The Pevensie children, particularly
Aslan's favored, Lucy, are
portrayed with a kind of sacred
role in Narnia, destined to rule and
bring peace to the land.
 Examples of the Sacred Child in Literature

The Sword in the Stone Matilda

by T.H. White: by Roald Dahl:

Arthur, as a young boy, is the only Matilda Wormwood, with her

one who can remove the sword
from the stone, signifying his
future as the legendary King
Arthur.
extraordinary intelligence and
telekinetic powers, stands out as a
child with special gifts, using them
to challenge unfair authority
figures.
Child as Radically Other
Historical Models of Childhood
 Child as Radically Other
In this model, children are viewed as completely
different from adults, and adults often struggle to
understand children and their actions.
Child as Radically Other
Adults and children
communicate on a
superficial level,
unable to fully
understand the
other’s world.
 Child as Radically Other

Children may live in

their own world,
separate from
adults.
Adults are seen as
glum, obtuse, and
overly practical.
Child as Radically Other

Children are
expected to
radically transform
into adults,
completely
changing who they
are as they mature.
Examples of the Radically Other in Literature

The next few slides present children’s

literature where child characters are
completely separate from adults.

These children function in their own separate world

from the adults, who may be underdeveloped or
unimportant characters.
Examples of the Radically Other in Literature

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie: Charlie and the Chocolate

This classic tale epitomizes the
concept of a separate child's
world. Neverland is a magical
place where children can fly and
never have to grow up, a stark
contrast to the adult world.
Factory by Roald Dahl:
Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory is
a place of wonder and imagination
that seems to operate by rules
that are incomprehensible to
adults, understood fully only by
the children who explore it.
Examples of the Radically Other in Literature

Pippi Longstocking The Secret Garden by Frances

by Astrid Lindgren: Hodgson Burnett:

Pippi, living alone and following Mary Lennox, a neglected child,

her own rules, embodies a child's discovers a hidden, neglected
world that is distinct and separate garden. The garden becomes a
from the conventional adult place of healing and exploration,
society. separate from the adult world.
Child as Miniature Adult
Historical Models of Childhood
Child as Miniature Adult

In this model, children

act, think, dress, and
function like adults
while maintaining their
youth.
 Child as Miniature Adult
Being young and small with an adult mind
often has advantages for characters, who are
able to navigate both the world of children
and adults.
Examples of the Miniature Adult in Literature

The next few slides present children’s

literature where child characters are possess
adult-like qualities.

These children are unusually mature and face adult

situations with confidence and courage.
Examples of Children as Mini-Adults in Literature

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: The Adventures of Huckleberry

The March sisters, particularly Jo
and Meg, often exhibit maturity
beyond their years, especially in
how they manage household
affairs and face the challenges of
growing up during the Civil War.
Finn by Mark Twain:
Huck Finn, while still a boy, often thinks
and acts with a level of autonomy and
moral reasoning that is quite adult,
especially in his decisions regarding Jim,
the runaway slave.
Examples of Children as Mini-Adults in Literature
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak:
Liesel Meminger, growing up in
Nazi Germany, demonstrates
profound understanding and
maturity as she navigates the
complexities of war, loss, and the
power of words.
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
Scout Finch, though just a child,
provides profound insights into the
complex world of adult prejudices
and moral questions in her
narration of events in her life.
Understanding models of childhood is central
to how we interpret children’s texts.

Which models of childhood have you seen in

books you have read?
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you
cease forever to be able to do it.” – Peter Pan