John Tolkien on "The Hobbit"

Tolkien on how "The Hobbit" came to be.

The Hobbit

From Wikipedia:

The central character, Bilbo, is a modern anachronism exploring an essentially antique world. Bilbo is able to negotiate and interact within this antique world because language and tradition make connections between the two worlds; for example, Gollum's riddles are taken from old historical sources, whilst those of Bilbo come from modern nursery books. It is the form of the riddle-game, familiar to both, which allows Gollum and Bilbo to understand each other, rather than the content of the riddles themselves. This idea of a superficial contrast between characters' individual linguistic style, tone and sphere of interest, leading to an understanding of the deeper unity between the ancient and modern is a constant recurring theme throughout The Hobbit.^[34]

The Hobbit may be read as Tolkien's parable of the First World War, where the hero is plucked from his rural home, and thrown into a far off war where traditional types of heroism are shown to be futile^[35] and as such explores the theme of heroism. The theme of war portrayed in literature as an anti-pastoral is also seen in The Hobbit; in "The Desolation of Smaug," both the area under the influence of Smaug before his demise and the setting for "The Battle of the Five Armies" later are described as barren, damaged landscapes.^[36]

The Jungian concept of individuation is reflected through the theme of growing maturity and capability, with the author seen to be contrasting Bilbo's personal growth against the same stunted development in the dwarves.^[6] The theme of a character entering into enclosed spaces (such as the various hills, caves, dungeons) has a Freudian dimension, with the additional analogue of the "underworld" and the hero returning with a boon (such as the ring, or Elvish blades) which benefits his society is seen to fit the mythic archetypes regarding initiation and male coming of age as described by Joseph Campbell.^[30]

Greed plays a central role in the novel, with many of the episodes stemming from one or more of the characters' simple desire for food (be it trolls eating dwarves or dwarves eating Wood-elf fare) or a desire for beautiful objects, such as gold and jewels.

Matilda

I actually read the book before I watched the movie! Surprise, I know! This was one of my favorites as a child. Matilda was such a bright young girl with so much to offer but her dreadful parents held her back from reaching her full potential until her teacher Ms. Honey came along. Throughout the book Matilda and Ms. Honey discover that they have a lot in common and both have their problems. In the end they help each other to resolve these problems and live happily ever after.

Surfing the web

So I was searching on the web for neat interactive stories and this is what I found...
You can basically name your own characters and decide who the hero is. It was a lot of fun.

http://www.storyplace.org/

Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl - Episode: Goldilocks

Doll Trouble

I have had this book as long as I can remember but I have no clue how I got it and I actually forgot that it existed until I started looking for some outside readings. It was written by Helen V. Griffith. Holiday is a live doll -- the only one in the world, so she thinks. Only Caitlin, who surreptitiously "traded" her old doll for her at the resale shop, knows her secret. These are delightful books, full of convincing child/doll interaction and fashion doll priorities, and demonstrates that a doll need not be old to have personality. There really is no moral or anything. It's just a fun fictional book.

Native American Culture in Children's Literature

My grandmother is Mexican-Indian so I take much pride in my Indian Heritage. The following is an article I found on Native American Themes in Children's Literature that I thought was pretty interesting.


"Overall, children's and young adult books with Native American Indian characters and themes have improved dramatically since I was a kid. We have a lot more to pick from than the Sacajewea and Pocahontas biographies, the tales of "savagery" on the Prairie.

Looking at those writers who've focused a significant portion of their work in this area, Native authors as well as non-Native authors with strong community ties (or those who did their homework), it's clear that there are some quality books now available.

However, stereotyped depictions persist. Contemporary settings are in short supply (and almost exclusively targeted at picture book readers). Certain well-known Nations like the Navajo (Diné) and Cherokee are highlighted while others don't appear to exist. Groups like Urban Indians are almost ignored. Few biographies focus on Native people known for their service to their own communities.

And Native authors and illustrators are represented in very low numbers (factoring out of the numberous books by Abenaki author-poet Joseph Bruchac, community representation is slight, especially in trade books).

For example, I recently noticed a book about Muscogee Creeks at my local branch library. Flipping to the last chapter, I was surprised to learn that the author had stated the Creek Nation no longer exists — especially given that it is one of today's largest Indian Nations. The book had been on the shelves for some thirty years, and it was the only resource available there to children researching the tribe. Today, I opened a major publisher's fall catalog and cringed. Native American creation stories were marketed boldly as "mythology" on one page. The Christmas story was marketed as "fact" on another. Granted, there are Christian Indians, just as there are Native people of various religious beliefs. Each should be respected. But traditional Native religions are still practiced by many tribal members. Would a publisher market Christian or Jewish beliefs as "myths"? I hope not."

Quotes

The following are a few quotes that I like that are about children and children's literature.

"One person cannot dictate to another what he or she ought to perceive as high quality"

“Poems for children help them celebrate the joy and wonder of their world. Humorous poems tickle the funny bone of their imaginations.”

"Good children's literature appeals not only to the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.”

"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."

"There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories."

"Adults are only obsolete children."

Because of Winn Dixie

As with many other stories, I first discovered this one by watching the movie. I did not even know the book existed until a while after I had already watched the movie. The first thing that strikes me in this novel is Opal's compassion from the very beginning. When she discovers this scruffy stray dog that is bound for the pound, she claims the dog as hers and names him Winn Dixie. Winn Dixie becomes friends with everyone he encounters, which in turn encourages Opal to befriend the people as well. Through these relationships with older adults and peers, Opal gains wisdom and the different points of view of life while growing emotionally as well. I feel as if I can relate to Opal quite a lot. I have found that I have many friends that are much older than me too. They are full of wisdom and are great to go to for advice. I have learned so much and have matured so much as a person just by having older friends. I can also relate to her wanting to save the dog from the pound. I think I would have done the same thing! I hate to see poor animals suffer.

Reading List

I have decided to create a reading list separate than the one listed at the very beginning of this blog. We are only required to do 10 outside readings for this class but in taking this class, I have discovered so much more children's literature that I never read and would like to. The following books are what I plan to read with this semester is over.

Louisa M. Alcott. Little Women

James Fenimore Cooper. The Last of the Mohicans

L. M. Montgomery. Anne of Green Gables

Anna Sewell. Black Beauty

Johanna Spyri. Heidi

Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

Mark Twain. The Prince and the Pauper

Jules Verne. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea