A Comparison between Works of Realistic Contemporary Fiction by Non-American and American Authors Whose Books Have Settings Other Than the United States, Whose Major Characters Are Not Citizens of the United States and Which Are Appropriate for Children Nine through Twelve Years of Age.

N

17

Authors; Books; Characterization; Childrens Literature; Fiction; Literary Criticism; Research; United States Literature; World Literature

This study of contemporary realistic fiction with settings outside the United States and characters who are citizens of other countries--appropriate for children aged nine through twelve years--sought to discover the differences between those by American authors and those by non-American authors. For the study, 35 books (24 by American authors and 11 by non-American authors) were chosen from "The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books" and were analyzed according to positive and negative concepts; age, sex, economic status, education level, social class, racial group, and personality traits of major and minor characters; goals valued by major and minor characters; and the positive and negative characteristics and stereotypes of major and minor characters. Analysis of results showed no significant differences in any but two categories: non-American authors portrayed major characters of adequate economic status and in the middle or upper social class, while American authors tended to depict major characters as being of low economic status and in the lower class. (JM)

1977

ED134965