The World of Insects in Czech Literature for Children Cover Image

Svět hmyzu v české literatuře pro děti
The World of Insects in Czech Literature for Children

Author(s): Milena Šubrtová
Subject(s): Czech Literature, Theory of Literature, Stylistics
Published by: Masarykova univerzita nakladatelství
Keywords: Literature for children; world of insects; anthropomorphism; parallels and shifts;

Summary/Abstract: Anthropomorphized nature is the frequent thematic reservoir of intentional children’s literature because clearness, conciseness and emotional effectiveness of life stories of personified animal characters suggest themselves as the enhancement of the parallel between events in the countryside and in the human society. Insects as the smallest representatives of the animal world then resemble, through their tininess and vulnerability, the “ant” optics of a small child appearing in the adult world. Using examples from the Czech literature for children since the 19th century till the present, the paper deals with the ways in which insects are represented, from parallels with the human society to parody shifts.

  • Issue Year: 14/2011
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 101-113
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Czech