Childrens Literature (M.Phil. / P.Grad.Dip.)
- Duration: 1 Year(s) Full Time
- Admission Requirements: See bottom of this page
- Closing Date: 31st March 2013 (Late applications will be considered)
- Course Director(s): Dr Amanda Piesse, Dr Padraic Whyte
- Course Email(s): apiesse@tcd.ie , whytepa@tcd.ie
- Course Tel(s): +353-1-896 1934/1224
- Course Next Intake: September 2013
- Course Url: www.tcd.ie/English/postgraduate/childrens-literature/
Apply
To apply, click on the relevant Apply Link belowCourse Details
Children's literature is recognised as a remarkable and dynamic part of literary and social culture. This course, the first full-time one year taught Masters programme in an Irish university, offers graduates in English or related disciplines the opportunity to study a broad range of children's literature in English. It addresses chronologies, genres, modes of criticism, publishing trends and the full apparatus of literary investigation across four centuries, while addressing the unique power dynamics that arise from adult authors writing for child readers. It is particularly concerned with multidisciplinary study because of the unique integration of words and images through the medium of picture books and graphic novels, and because its readership is more likely than any other to be 'technological natives' to have grown up taking multimedia approaches to texts for granted. Complete in itself, the course may also serve as preparation for those intending to proceed to further research in the field. Unique opportunities exist to work with the Pollard Collection, the bequest of more than 10,000 children's books left to the College by Mary 'Paul' Pollard, one time keeper of Early Printed Books, in 2005.
Course Content: There are four elements:
i) Perspectives and case studies in children's literature (core module),
ii) Optional modules:
- The child and Victorian literature,
- Tolkien: books for children and children's literature,
- Historical novels,
- Young Adult fiction,
- Writing for juveniles from Janeway to Jane Austen. Students choose one optional module in Michaelmas term and a second in Hilary term. Some of the options are shared with the MPhil in Popular Literature.
iii) Dissertation
Assessment is through four 5,000-7,000 word essays and a 15,000-20,000 word dissertation.
Admission Requirements
Applicants should have a good honors degree (at least an upper second or a GPA of at least 3.3). A sample of the candidate's own critical writing (3,000-5,000 words) is also required.