Prizes and Canons

The question of canon formation has always been a matter of debate in literary studies. With regard to literature for children and young adults, the issue seems to be even more contested. The most tricky problem, however, is how to handle questions of a (potential) canonical status of the text with regard to contemporary literature. In our course, we shall tackle this problem by investigating what kind of help may be offered by book prizes, those institutionalized labels of what is supposed to be -quality- literature. After discussing different approaches to establishing canonicity in children's literature and introducing major book prizes for children's literature in the English language, we will have a closer look at the shortlist of the two most prominent prizes for children's and young adult literature in Britain and the U.S.A.: The Costa Children's Book award and the Newbery Medal. The course will include two block sessions, where we will join forces with the course on literary prizes offered by Dr. Mikota from the German department. This will allow us to compare how the question of canon formation and prizes is handled in Anglophone and German countries. One block session (on Friday, 14 June) will also include a workshop with acclaimed children's literature scholar Matthew Grenby (University of Newcastle). Because of the two block sessions, the rest of the course will take place on a fortnightly basis. In order to make informed contributions to the class, students must be prepared for some extensive reading of two shortlists of books. The course is thus aimed at students who are fond of reading a lot and ready to purchase books. The texts for this course will be from the most recent shortlists of the Costa Children's Book Award and the Newbery Medal (2012 and either 2013 or 2011, depending on availability).You may check the website of the prizes for a first orientation. A concrete list will be posted here by mid-March 2013 the latest. Anglistik - Literatur- und Kulturwissenschaft MA LiWi 2011: für Punkte in Modul 6.1: keine Voraussetzungen für Punkte in Modul 10.1: Modul 1 und ein weiteres fachwissenschaftliches Modul abgeschlossen Lehramt alt BK und GY: Zwischenprüfung MA LiWi 2009: keine Voraussetzungen Bitte beachten Sie, dass ohne diese erforderlichen Voraussetzungen im Kurs keine Punkte vergeben werden! 2 LP / 3 LP Studienleistung: regular active participation in class; completion of reading load; 5-minute presentation of one book (please use the -I wish to present...- Forum to indicate which book you want to briefly present in class); 300-word review on one other book of your choice, to be submitted in the -Review- Forum of the respective prize by 18 June 5 LP: regular active participation in class; completion of reading load; 5-minute presentation of one book (please use the -I wish to present...- Forum to indicate which book you want to briefly present in class); 300-word reviews on one other book of your choice from each shortlist (i.e. 4 reviews altogether), to be submitted in the -Review- Forums of the respective prizes by 16 July 3 LP Prüfungsleistung (usually presupposes that you have successfully completed the tasks for 3 LP Studienleistung): comparative review of one shortlist of your choice, length: 2000-4000 words (depending on which list you have selected); to be submitted by 18 August 2013. 7 LP: all you have to do for 2 LP or 3 LP Studienleistung plus a comparative review of one shortlist of your choice, length: 2000-4000 words (depending on which list you have selected); to be submitted by 18 August 2013. Universität Siegen SoSe 2013 24 Univ.-Prof. Dr. A Müller Anja 24 A