CHANGES IN THE XXTH CENTURY ENGLISH CHILDREN’S LITERATURE TOPICS AND STYLES
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Children’s literature, 20th century, literary style, thematic development, imagination, identity, social context##article.abstract##
This research explores the major changes in topics and stylistic features in XXth century English children’s literature. The XXth century witnessed a significant shift from moral and didactic storytelling to more imaginative, psychological, and socially
reflective narratives. Authors began to focus on children’s emotions, autonomy, and complex life situations, incorporating diverse voices and themes such as war, gender roles, race, and identity. This evolution not only enriched children’s literature but also
aligned it more closely with broader literary movements and societal changes of the time.
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1.
Sam Leith, The Haunted Wood: A Joyous Foray into Children’s Fiction. 2023.
2.
Lucy Pearson, The Making of Modern Children’s Literature in Britain:
Publishing and Criticism in the 1960s and 1970s (2013).
3.
Barbara Spangler, Evolution of Children’s Literature: From Ancient Tales to
Digital Adventures (2024).
4.
Charlotte Berry, Twentieth Century Literature and Publishing Archives: UK
Research Perspectives on Children’s Literature (2012).
