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[CCBC-Net] dark is rising
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From: Benita Strnad <bstrnad>
Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 17:59:57 -0500
The discussion about the Dark is Rising and The Prydian Chronicles being boring is interesting. I think that there is another dimension to these books. I don't know whether prior knowledge about the Arthurian legends is necessary or if the reading the books leads to study of the Arthurian legends. I think that a basic working knowledge of the Arthurian legends is such an integral part of any fantasy work that it is hard to fully understand these works without that knowledge. I know it has been discussed before but we as teachers and librarian often take it for granted that kids know these legends and can transfer that knowledge to other fantasy works. Sometimes they can't because they simply don't know about King Arthur. In the book "Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp" the hero is a descendent of Lancelot and for that reason gets embroiled in a plot to steal Excalibur. I enjoyed the story immensely but when I gave it to my 12 year old nephew he had some trouble because he wasn't clear on some of the details about the King Arthur legends.
Likewise a student who read Nancy Farmer's book "Sea of Trolls" asked for and did her own digging into the Norse myths and legends. Imagine my pleasure when she said that she thought there were many similarities between the Norse legends and some of the things in Lord of the Rings.
(She had not read the books, only seen the movies.)
When I was in the school library I usually had a book of short stories sitting on my desk. I used these as "fillers" for those times when I didn't want the students being noisy or unruly. Oftentimes these were books of fairy tales or the short stories of Mary Pope Osburne. Kids love those stories and they do so much to fill in the blanks of knowledge. I even read some of the old Padric Collum books on the Irish Sagas. (those weren't short stories but the kids did get interested in them.)
Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 17:59:57 -0500
The discussion about the Dark is Rising and The Prydian Chronicles being boring is interesting. I think that there is another dimension to these books. I don't know whether prior knowledge about the Arthurian legends is necessary or if the reading the books leads to study of the Arthurian legends. I think that a basic working knowledge of the Arthurian legends is such an integral part of any fantasy work that it is hard to fully understand these works without that knowledge. I know it has been discussed before but we as teachers and librarian often take it for granted that kids know these legends and can transfer that knowledge to other fantasy works. Sometimes they can't because they simply don't know about King Arthur. In the book "Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp" the hero is a descendent of Lancelot and for that reason gets embroiled in a plot to steal Excalibur. I enjoyed the story immensely but when I gave it to my 12 year old nephew he had some trouble because he wasn't clear on some of the details about the King Arthur legends.
Likewise a student who read Nancy Farmer's book "Sea of Trolls" asked for and did her own digging into the Norse myths and legends. Imagine my pleasure when she said that she thought there were many similarities between the Norse legends and some of the things in Lord of the Rings.
(She had not read the books, only seen the movies.)
When I was in the school library I usually had a book of short stories sitting on my desk. I used these as "fillers" for those times when I didn't want the students being noisy or unruly. Oftentimes these were books of fairy tales or the short stories of Mary Pope Osburne. Kids love those stories and they do so much to fill in the blanks of knowledge. I even read some of the old Padric Collum books on the Irish Sagas. (those weren't short stories but the kids did get interested in them.)
-- Benita Strnad Curriculum Materials Librarian McLure Education Library The University of Alabama Time is the speed at which the past decays. Cloud Atlas by David MitchellReceived on Wed 10 May 2006 05:59:57 PM CDT
