Listen to this"It is through literature that we most intimately enter the hearts and minds and spirits of other people. And what we value in this is the difference as well as the human similarities of others: that way, as C. S. Lewis put it, we become a thousand different people and yet remain ourselves."
- A. Chambers (as cited in Tomlinson, 1998, p.3)
Introduction
If anything has universal appeal among children, it is a good story with
heroes and heroines. Stories with rich descriptions of the lives and
personalities of inspiring individuals (mythical or real, contemporary
or historical) entertain as well as serve as role models for children.
Through heroes and heroines of different cultures, children develop an
understanding of societal expectations and norms in various parts of the
world (Stan, 2002; Tomlinson, 1998), and what it can mean to live in a
particular region, or time period, or to be male or female (Rockman,
1993). The purpose of this Digest is to explore how heroes and heroines
in children's literature from around the world help young learners
understand and appreciate different cultures. We consider how
protagonists can serve as role models for children; discuss how it is
possible to obtain insights into universal and culturally specific
values and beliefs through stories set in a range of settings; and
conclude with some resources for determining good international and
multicultural children's literature.
Heroes and heroines as role models
Heroes and heroines often stand out because they have distinctive
strengths or personality traits. However, many stories may present an
ordinary person leading an ordinary life, who in drawing upon “ordinary"
character traits can stand out as being special. Heroes and heroines in
good literature are portrayed as complex individuals, so it is necessary
to analyze them in a holistic manner by paying special attention to the
interplay of both positive and negative traits. Many main characters are
strong role models because they rise above their own negative traits or
weaknesses and overcome personal challenges. We often find protagonists
inspiring because they demonstrate the need for individuals to be
resilient and to respond proactively to challenging circumstances.
Discussing heroes and heroines with children presents countless
opportunities for considering how character traits are expressed in
others, and how children can develop positive character traits in
themselves.
Heroes and heroines as exemplars of
universal character traits
A content analysis of award winning children's books from around the
world indicates some character traits are universally appreciated. These
include: personal courage, caring for others, perseverance,
resourcefulness, a belief in oneself, and optimism (Singh, Lin, & Lu,
2002). Through books children can see heroes and heroines in different
regions respond to issues such as racial, ethnic, and religious strife
in ways that demonstrate courage and resilience. While different
societies may value similar character traits, how these traits are
expressed can vary in different regions. Descriptions indicating
cultural variations in how character traits are manifest, help children
gain a sensitive understanding of how universal traits can also be
unique. By using heroes and heroines to explore the differential impact
societal issues have on people around the world we can delve into
examining issues surrounding expressions of individuality,
identification with social groups, and strategies for dealing with
various forms of discrimination.
Heroes and heroines as exemplars of
characters traits appreciated in particular contexts and time periods
Heroes and heroines are best understood and appreciated when viewed
within the social contexts in which their lives played out. Just as
every cultural and ethnic group has its own distinctive system of values
and beliefs, which reflect unique ways of thinking, behaving, and
living, so, too, character traits considered desirable are a unique
reflection of a group's value and belief system (Hourihan, 1997).
Accordingly, it is important to foster non-judgmental discussions among
students about how some cultures may view certain character traits to be
positive while others may consider these traits in a negative light.
Actively considering the dynamic nature of social, economic, and political contexts contributes to a thoughtful analysis of the thoughts, emotions, and actions of individual heroes and heroines. We must be careful when making connections between valued character traits in societies in the present and those from different historical periods. At the same time, ever changing present day realities also require us to be cautious in understanding contemporary heroes and their societies. Certain character traits we viewed positively just a few years ago may now be offensive within our societies. Certain realities heroes and heroines took for granted just a short time span ago may now be those that are the sources of conflict. On the whole, we must take care to analyze each hero or heroine's character traits and actions first within the context in which they have been presented, and only then attempt to make meaning of these character traits in a manner that transcends contextual boundaries.
As access to other cultures around the world becomes increasingly easy, it is more important than ever for educators and parents to recognize how children can be provided opportunities to understand how people in diverse areas live, feel, and think (Marston, 1997). The following section is devoted to criteria useful for selecting and evaluating international children's literature. We have also included some citations that contain bibliographies of exemplary international and multicultural books.
Evaluating and selecting criteria for
international children's literature
There are universal criteria for evaluating and selecting high quality
children's literature whether this is for young or older readers, for
boys or girls. However, additional considerations need to be taken into
account while introducing books from other countries to children. The
following list was developed by synthesizing recommendations from
several sources (ALSC Board, 1987; Council of Interracial Books for
Children, 1974; Pang, Colvin, Tran, & Barba, 1992; Tomlinson, 2002):
Authenticity: While most books are created by authors writing within their own country and in their local language, some books are written by non-native authors. Authors from both groups provide readers with different views-as insiders and outsiders-about a specific culture. The jacket flap and the back of a book are often good places for readers to identify the author's origin, as well as the resources and research he/she used to create the story. This information can be crucial when the author is not from the society in which the story takes place.
Context: Context is important in understanding meaning. When introducing children's literature from other countries, some terms and concepts may be unfamiliar to the readers. Wherever possible, readers should be provided with information regarding foreign vocabulary or concepts. This can be integrated into the story, shared as footnotes, or provided in a glossary.
Perspectives: Stories and illustrations for children are never neutral, but reflect the world view held by the author/artist. It is therefore critical to check for perspectives toward particular socio-economic and cultural groups both in written text and illustrations.
Translation: Translation is the art of recreating a story by remaining true to the tone, style, plot, characterization, and emotion that the original author expressed. Whenever possible, ask people from the particular language group to check the accuracy of concepts, language, and meaning, or even better, to compare the original and translated text.
Illustration: High quality illustrations in a picture book not only complement the written text but also provide an alternative way for readers, especially the very young, to interpret the story. Although artist styles and media of presentation may vary, it is important that these styles are true to the characters and the context they depict. While examining illustrations, look at how characters are portrayed (i.e., whether all of them look alike or dress alike). If language symbols such as signboards in a street scene are used, are these orthographically correct?
Resources for international literature
There are several resources devoted to introducing children's books from
around the world, providing annotated bibliographies of these books, and
discussing trends and issues in international children's literature. We
used three books while writing this digest-"The New Press Guide to
Multicultural Resources for Young Readers" (Muse, 1997), “The World
Through Children's Books" (Stan, 2002), and “Children's Books from Other
Countries" (Tomlinson, 1998). For more information, readers may also
wish to consult the following two books: “Global Perspectives in
Children's Literature", edited by Freeman and Lehman in 2001 (ISBN
0205308627) and “Change and Renewal in Children's Literature", by Van
Der Walt and Fairer-Wessels, published in 2004 (ISBN 0275981851). In
addition, Bookbird, “A Journal of International Children's Literature"
(ISSN 0067377) by International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)
also offers valuable information on many facets of international
children's literature. Finally, a web link created by the Clearinghouse
on Reading, English, and Communication containing resources on
organizations, reviews sources, booklists, and issues and trends in
international children's literature is located at:
http://reading.indiana.edu/ieo/bibs/intlchlit.html.
References
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Board. (1987). (Rev. ed.), “ALSC Mildred L. Batchelder Award: Terms and criteria". Chicago: American Library Association. Council of Interracial Books for Children. (1974). “10 Quick ways to analyze children's books for racism and sexism". New York: The Author. [ED 188 852]
Hourihan, M. (1997). “Deconstructing the hero: Literary theory and children's literature". New York: Routledge.
Marston, E. (1997). Images of Arabs in American children's literature. In D. Muse (Ed.), “The New Press guide to multicultural resources for young readers" (pp. 354-357). New York: The New Press. [ED 420 071]
Muse, D. (1997). (Ed.), “The New Press guide to multicultural resources for young people". New York: The New Press.
Pang, V. O., Colvin, C., Tran, M., & Barba, R. H. (1992). Beyond chopsticks and dragons: Selecting Asian-American literature for children. “The Reading Teacher", 46(3), 216-224. [EJ 452 692]
Rockman, H. (1993). “Against borders". Chicago: ALA Books.
Singh, M., Lin, C.-H., & Lu, M.-Y. (2002, November). “ Heroes and heroines in children's literature around the world". Paper presented at the National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention, Atlanta, GA.
Stan, S. (2002). “The world through children's books". Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
Tomlinson, C. M. (1998). “Children's books from other countries". Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
Tomlinson, C. M. (2002). An overview of international children's literature. In S. Stan (Ed.), “The world through children's books". Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
This feature: Exploring the Function of Heroes and Heroines in Children's Literature from around the World. This is an ERIC Digest and is in the public domain.
