This panel will explore how books of the past featuring boy heroes were impacted by larger cultural and historical contexts occurring at the time of their authorship, while also considering the influence of historical and literary movements upon contemporary books featuring boy characters. Texts considered will include Tom Brown’s Schooldays, Peter Pan, and the Harry Potter series.
Presentations
Reflections of the Past: The Impact of 19th Century Children’s Literature on Culture
Presenters
Rachel Brenner
J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan: The Child-Body as a Remedy for Neurasthenia in Early 20th Century Britain
Presenters
Elisabeth M. Yang
Perception, Manipulation, and Free Will in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter
Presenters
Mary S. Edward
Old-old-old School Bullies at Hogwarts: The Pre-Victorian Roots of Malfoy, Potter, and Snape
Presenters
Katharine Kittredge
Carolyn Rennie
Session chairs
Katharine Kittredge
