MAPACA

Mid-Atlantic Popular &
American Culture Association

The idea of childhood is a fairly new one. Before the 18th century, they were merely sin incarnate, beings that from the moment they were born were already doomed to hell. It was during the start of the 18th century that children were given a new vision: they were simply empty vessels that needed to be filled. This idea was built upon until Western culture entered into the Golden Age of Childhood, a complete switch from the ideas of the 17th century and before.

With the Golden Age of Childhood came a new genre of literature: children’s fiction. These novels were written not for educational purposes, but specifically for a child’s enjoyment. The 19th century gave the world such authors as Mark Twain, Lewis Carrol,Thomas Hughes, and Washington Irving. These author’s novels all included child characters or characters that children would be able to relate. While similar themes emerge in all four the of the author’s books, there are slight variations based on where the author originated (England or America).

By observing the differences within the American children’s novels versus the British children’s novels, one would be able to decipher key differences in the two country’s cultures. Specifically, by looking at how children play within the novels. Thomas Hughes’ Tom Brown’s Schooldays contains one of the most famous chapter on rugby that exists in literature, but the average 19th century American child would have little to no idea what rugby was. The differences in play can determine how different the two cultures were, and key aspects of the larger cultures as well by seeing where value is placed.