Twice upon a time an analysis of structural and thematic repetition in childrens literature

Abstract

Twice Upon a Time is recognition of repetition as a recurrent phenomenon in literature for children, where it occurs at the level of words, phrases, characters and themes that keep emerging and re-emerging on the literary sphere, which dedicates itself to child readers. The present work holds that repetition is not a mechanical or soulless phenomenon but is instead rooted in the tradition of telling and retelling of tales through the ages or, additionally, is invested in using the aesthetic of rhyme, refrain and other repetitive structures that serve to create atmosphere or anticipation in a narrative, as happens in the fairytale. It is held that repetition in books for toddlers is functional as it aids not only in language acquisition by making words and concepts easy to remember and anticipate in a text, but books with texts that is predictable offers comfort to young readers. Such repetition addresses not only the emotional needs of a child but also the overall development of the child, by becoming a tool to drive home the customs and manners that young readers are expected to acquire in order to integrate themselves and interact within a given social setup. The work also explores the recurring character of the literary orphan and the frequently emerging theme of the adult and child conflict that is instrumental in launching the child hero on a journey of self-discovery, a process that involves the identification of independent merit and an individual s capability to thrive even outside the domain of supportive social institutions. The orphan character also recurrently forms a mythos of its own which showcases the triumph of the underdog against all odds and fortifies the message of hope and redemption in the face of unfortunate circumstances. It is seen that, in a way, literature for children repeatedly reinforces the message of courage and future hope for young readers. newline