A Book…at the CinemaChildren Movies from British or American Novels

by Roberta Martino

Let’s… read some movies…or let’s watch some books…!

Maybe you don’t know that most of the movies or cartoons you enjoy at the cinema are taken from famous novels…We are going to talk about some famous movies for children taken from beautiful British or American novels…

But what is childern’s literature?

CHILDREN'S LITERATUREChildren's literature is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated.

Books specifically for children existed by the 17th century. Before this time period books were written mainly for adults. Additionally, most printed works cost too much and were mostly available for purchase only by upper class society.

Types of children's literature

The major categories of children's literature are:

• Picture books and wordless books

• Traditional literature: its characteristics are conventional introductions and conclusions, vague settings, stereotyped characters,anthropomorphism, cause and effect, happy ending for the hero, magic accepted as normal, brief stories with simple and direct plots.

• Fiction, including the sub-genres of fantasy and realistic fiction (both contemporary and historical)

• Non-fiction• Biography, including

autobiography • Poetry and verse.

Many important novels for children have become famous movies or cartoons.In particular, we are going to talk about films taken from some of the most famous British and American writers. Three of them are writers of the past (Victorian Era) and three are authors of our times.

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE IN THE VICTORIAN AGE

The Victorian age of the United Kingdom was the period of Queen Victoria's rule from June 1837 to January 1901.This was a long period of prosperity for the British people, as profits gained from the overseas British Empire, as well as from industrial improvements at home, allowed a large, educated middle class to develop.The era is often characterized as a long period of peace, known as the Pax Britannica, and economic, colonial, and industrial consolidation.

The Victorian era became notorious for employing young children in factories and mines and as chimney sweeps. Children of poor families would leave school at the age of eight and were then forced to go to work. School was not free at that time. All the jobs for children were very dangerous. There weren’t any breaks, working days were much longer, and workers earned very little money. Many characters of Victorian novels are children like these.

“Alice's Adventures in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll

Lewis Carroll is the pseudonym of the English writer and mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, born on Jan. 27, 1832, died on Jan. 14, 1898.Carroll invented his pen name by translating his first two names into the Latin "Carolus Lodovicus" and then anglicizing it into "Lewis Carroll."

The son of a clergyman and the firstborn of 11 children, Carroll began at an early age to entertain himself and his family with magic tricks, marionette shows, and poems. He graduated in Oxford in 1854. Carroll remained there, lecturing on mathematics and writing treatises and guides for students.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was written in 1865. It tells the story of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world, Wonderland, populated by peculiar and anthropomorphic creatures.

The young girl soon discovers that in that place the solid, logical laws of science no longer apply.

…and now let’s watch the trailer of the movie…

Major ThemesAs children's stories of this period, the book relate the dream-world adventures of a young girl with a number of obstinate animals, insects, and the imaginary characters Carroll has taken from the worlds of playing cards and chess.

An important theme of the Alice books is "growing up." In addition, the insanity of Alice's dream world has been considered a satire on the ordered, earnest world of Victorian England.

Another important theme is the search for her true self. In fact, Alice is constantly searching for answers and definitions. In order to find the real Alice she must go through numerous different tasks. She has to understand who she really is.

QUIZ1. Lewis Carroll is the pseudonym of  Louis Care Luis Charles Charles Lutwidge Dodgson George Louis Carroll

2. Carroll wrote and lived in  Edwardian England Nineteenth century America Victorian England Nineteenth century Nova Scotia 

3. Alice's adventures begin when she follows• her cat• the White Rabbit• the Cheshire cat• the Caterpillar

4. One of the themes of the book is the• triumph of madness• the dangers of the wild world• the injustice of slavery• the growth from childhood to adulthood 5. What is the full name of The book “Alice in

Wonderland”? • The Adventures of Alice: Alice in Wonderland• Alice and the White Rabbit: Alice in Wonderland• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland• Alice's Trip through Wonderland

“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was born on 7th February 1812 and died on 9th June 1870.

He belonged to a middle class family but a first time of prosperity came to an abrupt end when his father, after having spent beyond his means in entertaining, and in retaining his social position, was imprisoned at Marshalsea debtors' prison.

Just before his father's arrest, the 12-year-old Dickens had begun working ten-hour days. The strenuous and often cruel work conditions of the factory employees (especially children), made a deep impression on Dickens. His experience served to influence his works.

A Christmas Carol, is a novella that has become one of the most popular Christmas stories of all time. It is a Victorian morality tale. It talks about an old and bitter man, Ebenezer Scrooge. Mr. Scrooge is a financier/money-changer who has devoted his life to the accumulation of wealth but he undergoes a profound experience of redemption during a Christmas eve.

…and now let’s watch the trailer…

Major themes

The story deals with two of Dickens' recurrent themes, social injustice and poverty. Dickens says that the Industrial Revolution has driven many people into poverty, and the society is obliged to provide for them humanely.

Scrooge embodies all the selfishness and indifference of the rich classes who complain about the ‘surplus population’ and think their social duties only consist in paying their taxes.

OTHER CHARACTERS

Jacob Marley(Scrooge’s partner)

The Spirit of Christmas Past

The Spirit of

Christmas Present

The Spirit of

Christmas Yet to Come

QUIZ

1. What is Jacob Marley forced to drag about as a result of his sinful life?

• A huge safe full of lead• A box full of gold• Heavy chains forged from lockboxes• A cross made of gold

2. What is the Ghost of Christmas Present's throne made of?• Food• Gold• Pine needles• Fur

3. Which of the spirits does not speak to Scrooge?• The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come• The Ghost of Christmas Past• The Ghost of Christmas Present• All the spirits speak to Scrooge

4. What is Scrooge's typical response to "Merry Christmas"?• "Bah! Nonsense!"• "Pah! Life's too short!"• "Bah! Humbug!"• "Oh, fiddlesticks!“

5. Which character says the famous words, "God bless us, Every one"?• Tiny Tim• Bob Cratchit• Scrooge• The Ghost of Christmas Present

6. Which one of the spirits has a glowing head?• The Ghost of Christmas Present• Jacob Marley• The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come• The Ghost of Christmas Past

“Peter Pan” by James Matthew Barrie

James Matthew Barrie, (9 May 1860 – 19 June 1937) was a Scottish author and dramatist. He wrote Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, a "fairy play" about this ageless boy and an ordinary girl named Wendy who have adventures in the fantasy setting of Neverland.

This play became his best-known work. Before his death, he gave the rights to the Peter Pan works to Great Ormond Street Hospital, which continues to benefit from them.

…and now the trailer…

Peter Pan is a mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up. He spends his never-ending childhood on the small island of Neverland interacting with mermaids, Indians, fairies, pirates, and meeting ordinary children from the world outside.

Peter is the leader of the Lost Boys, a band of boys who were lost by their parents, and came to live in Neverland. His best friend isTinker Bell,

a common fairy who is often jealous of him. His archenemy is Captain Hook, whose hand he cut off in a duel.

Sometimes Peter visits the real world, particularly around Kensington Gardens, and meet children there. Wendy Darling is the most important.

He also brings her brothers John and Michael to Neverland.

This text describes the patriarchal society of the Victorian Era where it was expected that little girls act as young ladies as to practise for when they become women, wives and mothers or where young boys were encouraged, educated and favoured over their sisters.

Major themes

The main theme is thatall children must grow up.However, every adult should keep his innocenceand should never become so cynical toforget the innocence of youth.

QUIZ1. What are the true directions to Neverland? • Around the Milky way river bend!• Second star to the right and straight on till morning!• Follow your heart!• Take the second right!

2. Who are the Lost Boys?• People who get lost • Adults• The children who fall out of their prams when their parents

aren't looking• The children who do not want to grow up

3. How did Captain Hook loose his hand? • It got blasted off when he was shooting a canon• Peter Pan cut if off and gave it to the crocodile• He burned it off • Peter pan ate it

4. What’s the name of the fairy friend of Peter? • Tinky• Tinker Bell• Belly• Jingle Bell

CONTEMPORARY CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

In today's world, books face competition for children's attention with pastimes as video games, the Internet, television or mobile phones.

Because of these distractions, children's books authors, have to find different methods to encourage children to read.

For this reason current children's books have taken a step away from fairy tales and are gravitating toward solving the problems of modern teenagers’ real life:

divorce, family problems, racism, multiculturalism,

disabilities or bullying.

“The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg

Chris Van Allsburg was born June 18th 1949. He is an American author and illustrator of childen’s books. He wrote and illustrated Jumanji (1982) and The Polar Express (1985) both of wich became famous motion pictures.

…let’s watch the trailer…

On Christmas Eve, a young boy is hoping for belief in the true spirit of Christmas. During the night of Christmas Eve a magic train called The Polar Express pulls up in front of his house. He is invited aboard by the train's mysterious conductor to go to the North Pole. Though he initially hesitates, he boards the train.

On the train, the Hero Boy encounters a group of other children who are on their way to see Santa Claus. After many adventures they reach the North Pole.

The boy says he believes in Santa and the spirit of Christmas so he receives "The First Gift Of Christmas". Realizing that he could choose anything in the world, the boy asks for a beautiful sounding silver bell (that only believers can hear) which fell from Santa's sleigh.

The last line in the movie repeats the same last line from the book:"At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them.

Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe."

Major Theme

The main theme of The Polar Express is revealed from the Conductor when he says,“Sometimes seeing is believing… And sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.”So, the major theme in this movie is FAITH.

QUIZ1. When the conductor asked if he was coming to the North Pole, the boy• took the conductor's hand• said “I’ll come tomorrow morning”• took his coat and climbed aboard• said "no“

2. What did the boy eat and drink on the train? • popcorn and soda pop• hot chocolate• sweets and candies• Christmas cookies and milk

3. What did the Polar Express cross before it reached the North Pole? • a lake covered with ice• a river of diamonds• a desert • a great city 

4. What did the boy ask Santa as the first gift of Christmas?• money• a new bike• a silver bell from Santa's sleigh• a ride on the sleigh

5. What did the boy feel when he put his hand into his pocket?• a hole• a key• a silver bell• a small wrapped present

6. For whom does the boy's bell still ring? • the protagonist and his sister• only children who don’t believe in Santa Claus• those who truly believe• anyone who is sad and lonely

“The Golden Compass” by Philip Pullman

Philip Pullman (born on the 19thOctober 1946) is an English writer. He is the best-selling author of several books, among which his trilogy of fantasy novels, His Dark Materials.

The first book of His Dark Materials has been turned into the film The Golden Compass. In 2008, The Times named Pullman in its list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945”.

“His Dark Materials” is a trilogy of fantasy novels including Northern Lights (1995, published as The Golden Compass in North America), The Subtle Knife (1997), and The Amber Spyglass (2000). It follows the life of two children, Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry, as they wander through a series of parallel universes against many epic events.

…let’s watch the trailer…

Major Themes

The story involves fantasy elements such as witches and armoured polar bears. The series has been criticised for its negative portrayal of Christianity and religion in general.

The title of the series itself, His Dark Materials, comes from John Milton's Paradise Lost.Pullman earlier proposed to name the series The Golden Compasses.

This term also appears in the poem Paradise Lost, where it poetically refers to the "compasses" as the drafting instruments with which God shaped the world.

QUIZ1. Who are the main characters? • Lyra and Pantalaimon• Will and Kirjava• Lord Faa and Serafina• The bear and Serafina 2. What is the altheiometer and how many are there? • an instrument that tell the truth about everything and there are only six• a way of measuring and there are four• a watch and there are three• a torch and there are only two

3. Where does the book mostly take place? • in America• in the North Pole• in Oxford, England• in Australia

4. What kind of book is this? • fantasy• historical fiction• science fiction• reality

5. Who is the main character's friend? • Will• Roger• Steve• Frank

“Harry Potter” by J. K. Rowling

Joanne Rowling, (born 31st July 1965), is a British author best known as the creator of the Harry Potter fantasy series, the idea for which was conceived on a train trip from Manchester to London in 1990. The Potter books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, sold more than 400 million copies and been the basis for a popular series of films.

Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels. The books tells the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The main story arc concerns Harry's attempt to overcome the evil wizard Lord Voldemort, whose aim is to conquer the wizarding world and subjugate non-magical people, and who seeks to destroy all those who stand in his way, such as Harry's parents.

Since the 30th June 1997 release of the first novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone the books have gained immense popularity, critical acclaim and commercial success worldwide.

…and now the trailer…

Major ThemesAccording to Rowling, the main theme is death, although it is primarily considered to be a work of children's literature. There are also other themes in the series, such as love and prejudice.

Themes such as normality, oppression, survival, and overcoming imposing odds are important. Similarly, the theme of adolescence and growing up is also predominant.

QUIZ(Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)

1. According to legend, what would a person become if he could assemble the Deathly Hallows?

• Infinitely wise• Ruler of the world• Master of death • Invincible 2. What is written on Harry’s parents’ gravestone? • The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death • Where your treasure is, there shall your heart be also• I open at the close• In loving memory 3. Who of the following is not a member of Dumbledore’s Army?• Luna Lovegood• Neville Longbottom• Remus Lupin • Ginny Weasley

4. Why does Dumbledore leave Ron a Deluminator • To protect him from dementors• To lead him back to Harry • So he can turn the lights off• So he can eavesdrop on Snape 5. How do Harry and his friends enter the Ministry of Magic? • On the back of a dragon• In chains• By Disapparating• Through toilets  6. Why didn't Harry die when Voldemort tried to kill him in the

forbidden forest?• Voldemort had taken Harry's blood • Harry had 3 hallows, making him master of death• He had a philosephors stone • Voldemort missed

THE END

Roberta Martino

Ist. Compr. “Losapio- S. F. Neri”Gioia del Colle (BA)