Children’s Classics

Course Code: 4XCC10C20

Start Date: 22/04/2021

• Thursday

Session: Afternoon

Length in weeks: 10

Time: 2.00pm-4.00pm

Price: £

On this course, we have the pleasure of reminding ourselves of some childhood favourites – in poetry and prose.  First, we read nursery rhymes, nonsense rhymes and words to jump rope songs to get a flavour of what children in the past enjoyed.  Then we read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and consider the text as well as the illustrations.  Next is The Secret Garden (1911) which is one of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s most popular novels.  Third we have Elinor M Brent-Dyer’s The School at the Chalet (1925), the first entry in one of the most popular British school-story series ever.  Swallows and Amazons (1930) by Arthur Ransome inspired countless children to read exciting and enchanting adventures.  Enid Blyton introduced 4 special children and a dog to readers in Five on a Treasure Island (1942) and the subsequent series of novels was hugely successful.  Finally, we read another extremely popular modern children’s classic:  Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone (1997) and see if we can determine what prompts readers to love it or hate it.  Join us and find out!