Children's Literature

皆さんが読む「ごんぎつね」という作品は、一般的に「児童文学」というジャンルに分類されます。
「ごんぎつね」は、日本ではもっとも有名な童話です。小学4年生の国語の時間にも習うので、日本人なら知らない人はいない話だと言えます。日本人なら誰でも、多かれ少なかれ心に影響を受け、記憶のどこかにとどめている作品です。

"Gongitsune" is one of the most famous stories in Japan. It is classified as children's literature, and all Japanese children have to read it when they are the fourth grade of elementary school as a material of Japanese reader. So, all Japanese people should know this story, and it can be said that most of Japanese people are influenced by it.    

Q1)児童文学のイメージ・・・

児童文学といえば、どんな話をイメージしますか?

楽しい話?悲しい話?胸がわくわく、どきどきする話ですか?
あなたは、大人になった今でも、「児童文学」というジャンルに属する作品が好きですか?

About the image of children literature;

What kind of image do you have about children's literature?
What kind of story do you think should be the typical children's literature?
Funny story?  Exciting story ? Or sad story?
Do you still like children literature though you are already grown-up?

 

Q2)国民的児童文学作品(?)・・・

あなたの国で、みんなが読んでいる有名な児童文学作品を教えてください。そのタイトルやあらすじを簡単に紹介してください。あなた自身はその作品が好きですか?その作品は世界的にも有名でしょうか?あなたは、それを他の国の人にも紹介したいと思いますか?

The national children's literature(?);

Please introduce the famous work of children's literature in your country.....it's title, author, and storyline. Is that work world-famous?
Do you yourself like/love that work? And do you want to let people in the foreign countries know that work?


Q3)児童文学が人格形成に影響することはあるのか?

あなたの周りの日本人、ホストファミリーや友達に「子どもの時に“ごんぎつね”を読んだことがありますか?今でもよく覚えていますか?“ごんぎつね”を自分の子どもにも読ませたいですか?」など、いろいろ質問をしてみてください。どんな答えが返ってくるでしょうか。その答えから、日本人が「ごんぎつね」からどんな影響を受けているか、考えてください。

Are people influenced by children's literature when they build their character?;

Please ask your Japanese friends or your host family some questions about "Gongitsune", for example;
"Have you ever read Gongitsune? How do you like it?"
"Do you still remember the story of Gongitsune still now?"
"Do you want your children to read Gongitsune?"
etc,etc.

How will they make replies?
And please think about how Japanese people are influenced by Gongitsune.









7 件のコメント:

  1. Part 1/3
    About the image of children literature;

    What kind of image do you have about children's literature? What kind of story do you think should be the typical children's literature? Funny story? Exciting story ? Or sad story?
    A few years ago, I took a class at Tours University in Children’s literature (especially image books). I am aware that my vision has changed a lot after that class.
    Before, children books always appealed to me, as they reminded me of bed time stories read by my mother, or later on, the ones I myself read to my baby brother. They were mostly a remembrance of the past.
    That class, given by Cécile Boulaire, the major specialist in France of children’s albums, made me consider the importance of books and stories for the child’s development, but also all the possibilities that were given to the author.
    I am really interested in young children’s literature, because it is much more than an author sharing a story. The story usually has to be read by someone else, often a parent, so relationship is developed. The drawings are essential (there are lots of stories without any written text at all), the placement of elements on the page has to be think about carefully. The size, format, texture, material of the book itself are also important elements. (the italian Bruno Murani worked on those aspects). This is why for young children, the discovery of literature starts with the touch of the book. I think it is very important that children are allow to touch and play with the book- even if they usually break it- as it is part of their appropriation of it as an object. If it is part of their daily environment, they will more easily turn to it later on and appreciate it not only as an object/game, but also its text.
    I think children’s literature is absolutely essential to the child’s development. First, as I said before, because it creates a link between the child and the reader (listening to the voice of the parents/relatives is very important). Also, books help the child learn about the world, help him go through phases of life. It is commonly said that death- amongst many other subjects- is not a theme for children, however, they might have to face it in their surroundings, and reading books dealing with death can help them understand, feel it does not happen to them only. Books dealing with children’s fears are very useful, as they read through it, they face their fears, experience it, but anytime, if the fear become too frightening, they can be brought back to reality by closing the book. Books allow children to life different experiences- by assimilating with the characters of the books- without losing touch with the reassuring world where their parents protect them.


    Do you still like children literature though you are already grown-up?
    I still really like ready children books today for different reasons. First, because they remind me of my own childhood; second because I am making notes of the books I want to read to my children; lastly, in a purely scholar optic, I found them interesting to study. Good children literature is still meaningful for adults and make parents want to read it as much as children.
    I like to read a children book on my own first, enjoy the story and then analyse its content and form. Then I read it with a young child, and every time I am amazed at their understanding of the implicit in the story. About drawing, children are also able, much better than us, to see at the same time the picture as a whole and every small detail. We often lose this double capacity, because we don’t work enough on it. So it is amazing and frustrating when children make you notice all the details you didn’t saw.

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  2. Q1)児童文学のイメージ・・・

    児童文学といえば、どんな話をイメージしますか?

    楽しい話?悲しい話?胸がわくわく、どきどきする話ですか?
    あなたは、大人になった今でも、「児童文学」というジャンルに属する作品が好きですか?

    児童文学というのはいろいろなイメージがあります。教訓を教える話もあれば、読んで楽しめる話もあります。教訓の話は他のに比べると、もっと重々しいです。そういう話の主人公はたいてい大変なことを経験して、話が終わる前になんとなく性格や見が変わってきます。
    しかし、教訓の話が分かるのはちょっと難しいから、赤ちゃんや若い小学生向きの話もあるんです。こういう話も教訓あるかもしれませんが、もっと簡単で分かりやすいです。それに、感情の種類が多いです。子供を接伴するためにワクワク、ドキドキする話があります。時々悲しい話もあるんですけど、話の終わりはたいてい嬉しい感じ(“happy ending”)です。理由は、「人生というのは、悲しい時があっても必ずよくなりますよ」という気持ちを子供に伝えたいからです。
    去年、大学で児童文学の授業を受けていました。その授業で「児童文学というのは、どういうことですか?」という質問について考えて詮議していました。結局に、本を読むの目的は世界や人間のことをよく分かるようになるためだという結論を達したんです。なので、作家は世界の本当のままのように書いたほうが良いです。怖い・悲しいことを隠してはいけないんです。実に子供も世界が(大人が思っているより)良く分かるから、大切なのは悪いことが起こったりするとどうすればいいかを教えることです。現実に悪い人がいるから、悪いキャラクタもいなくてはならないんです。
    本質的に児童文学は大人の文学に似いています。さらに、子供向きの作家の仕事は大変難しいので、教訓の伝える話の書ける人を本当に尊敬します。





    Q2)国民的児童文学作品(?)・・・

    あなたの国で、みんなが読んでいる有名な児童文学作品を教えてください。そのタイトルやあらすじを簡単に紹介してください。あなた自身はその作品が好きですか?その作品は世界的にも有名でしょうか?あなたは、それを他の国の人にも紹介したいと思いますか?

    多分児童文学の一番有名な作品はジョン・ニューベリー賞が与えられた作家の本です。毎年一人の作家がニューベリー書をもらいますから、時間が経つとともに文学がどうやって変わるか分かるようになれます。
    受賞作品はごんぎつねより長い小説です。なので、内容は簡単で短いたとえ話か寓言じゃなくて、もっと複雑な話です。キャラクタも深い性格があります。若い子供向きじゃないかも知れませんけど、小学校4年生以上・中学生ぐらいの子供に影響します。
    私の読んだ作品の一つは「テラビシアへかける橋」という本です。主人公二人のジェスとレスリーは出会って、友達になって、遊びながら誰も知らない場所を見つかります。その所を空想の世界にします。小川の向こうにあって「テラビシア」という名前を付けます。日常生活の問題から抜けて毎日遊びに行く場所になっています。しかし、ある日、ジェスは先生に誘われてどっかへ行きます。レスリーは一人でテラビシアへ行こうとしますけど、小川を渡りながら死んでしまうんです。ジェスは非常に寂しくなります。でも、レスリーと出会って、友達の関係の力を教えてくれたから、ジェスは生き続くことが出来ます。
    読書が趣味なので、好きな本はたくさんあります。例えば、ナルニア国物語やくまのプーさんも何度も読みました。しかし、アメリカは若い国だから昔からの話はあんまりないんです。それに、学生を読む本は先生に選ばれるから読まなくてはならない話はありません。でも、ニューベリー賞の作家は認められるんです。受賞著者はアメリカのこと(歴史・人)を言葉に出来てすごい人です。なので、できれば他の国の人にも紹介したいと思います。誰でも、少しだけでも、人のことがもっと分かるようになれるんです。



    Q3)児童文学が人格形成に影響することはあるのか?

    あなたの周りの日本人、ホストファミリーや友達に
    「子どもの時に“ごんぎつね”を読んだことがありますか?
    今でもよく覚えていますか?
    “ごんぎつね”を自 分の子どもにも読ませたいですか?」
    など、いろいろ質問をしてみてください。どんな答えが返ってくるでしょうか。その答えから、日本人が「ごんぎつね」か らどんな影響を受けているか、考えてください。

    ホストマザーをインタビュしました。
    ナチャン:ごんぎつねは読んだことありますか?
    答え:ごんぎつねは(ホストシスター)の教科書にのけているよ。毎年教科書は変わるけど、だいたいいっしょだから私ぐらいのとしの人もこの話知っているでしょう。
    昔話ほどふるくはないけど、古い話で教科書が改正されても、ごんぎつねはずっと教科書に出ると思います。

    ナチャン:ごんぎつねの話、今でもよく覚えていますか?
    答え:全部は覚えていないけど、ところどころ・・・
    ちょっと怖い話ですね。人が死んだり、自分も死んだり・・・自然に対する怖い気持ちとかが伝わります。

    ナチャン:印象に残っているシーンは何ですか?
    答え:ごんぎつねはいろいろなものを預けて置くけど、主人公は気が付かなくて・・・
    そういうシーンが残っています。

    ナチャン:子供の読ませたいですか。
    答え:もちろん!精神的なことがいっぱいありまうす。嬉しさ、寂しさ、悲しさ、人間の喜び・・・それはごんぎつねのいいところですね。
    作家の人も有名だから、他のことの勉強になったりします。

    ナチャン:アメリカの児童文学もこういう話がありますけど、日本のとちょっと違います。ごんぎつねの最後のシーンにごんが死んでしまってからひょじゅがやっと気が付きました。ひょじゅがなにかを言って、それで話が終わります。アメリカの話には意味はもっと直接に伝われるんです。
    答え:そうですねぇ。全体あいまいさで・・何ででしょうね。

    まとめ:こういうところは日本の文化に影響させられると思います。会話でも直接に言わなくて、優しく言ったほうがお好みでしょう?そんなことになっているようです。しかし、ときどきその方が良いじゃないですかね。話や小説の意味は読者にちょっとだけでも考えさせた方がいいと思います。「話」というのは作家と読者の協力ですからね。

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  3. Part 2

    After asking 3 other person of different ages about which children books (without any indication of age) were the most famous in France, we agree on the tales of Perrault, Grimm and Anderson. They are part of our common imaginary- more north-west European than strictly French. Most of those tales are already famous because they have been adapted by Walt Disney. However, those old tales have been adapted to our new XXth century vision of the children (innocent child vs. Knowing child). They were often very dark stories but Disney turned them into happy end stories, so most children know those versions.
    The tales of the 1000 and 1 nights (Scheherazade) are also known by all children. The stories are presented separately in individual books. Most children discover only in high school that those stories (Sinbad the sailor, ...) are part of a larger book.
    Another two stories that are famous, once separated from the rest of the book are 2 fables from La Fontaine: the crow and the fox; the grasshopper and the ant. Those two short fables are teach in first year of primary school, but the stories is also used to make illustrated children books.
    About illustrated children books, the two most famous are Babar by Jean de Brunhoff and Martine by Delahaye and Marlier.
    Babar is a famous book from the 1930’s about a baby elephant whose mother is killed. He runs away and arrives at the big city where the Lady takes care of him and educates him. The book was published in a big size with a red cover. Today a continuation of Babar’s adventures has been published by other writers but never as successful and good. It has also been adapted on TV. All children know Babar.
    Martine is a series of books published since 1950’s for girls (still publishing today). Martine is the perfect little girl. I had most of her books and loved it until I was able to see how those books try to teach girls how to become perfect wives. But they still appeal to most girls, and is very convenient for parents as it is sold even in supermarkets.
    A last book I want to mention is the books of the Comtesse de Ségur. Those are for older children (from 8-9 years old). Again I think it appeals mostly to girls. She wrote about children in the XIXth century. Her books always express a strong moral. One of her book is known by every child in France: Les malheurs de Sophie (The misfortunes of Sophie). Her other books I think are mostly known by children who read a lot.
    However, the generation that came after me, has also new references. The BD (comic) has become very important lately even for young children. In families that don’t like to read, those are usually the only books children will found, read and know from a young age: Tintin, Astérix (two classical that are part of the francophone culture). But also more specifically for children: Titeuf (a comic for pre-teens, but who is read now by younger children and has become a reference).
    We can also point at some anglo-american books that are famous in France: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, and Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, Winnie the Pooh by Milne, Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl’s stories.Those books are mostly known in scholar families or by older children (through school library), it is not know by everyone.
    However, we have to remember that France is a multi-ethnical country, with people from many origins. I think this can well be seen in the abundance of books of tales from different countries you can found there. So, children whose parents are not born and raised in France, will teach them tales and stories of their own countries but not the same ones as all the other children (then we can wonder if school manage to close that gap?)

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  4. end part 2

    Are people influenced by children's literature when they build their character?
    I think they are if literature played a role in their life. But today they are in France too many children who grow without any books, not allowed to fly away from the reality and whose models are more down-to-earth. Those children also lose part of our common culture and are later unable to understand many references to it.

    Part 3
    I asked my host mother about Gongistune, and she remembers her mother read it to her when she was very young. She herself read it to her son when she was pregnant (it was an advice of her mother who did the same herself). Gongitsune was one of the books she bought during her pregnancy with Momotaro. For her Gongitsune is one of the most famous children’s books of Japanese culture. But she couldn’t decide if there was one that was the first most famous- the same happened to me when I tried to think the same about French books.

    I asked a Konan student about Gongistsune. He knew he studied it at school, but didn’t remember the story very well, he only knew it was a sad story. After thinking, he remembered he get killed at the end, and added “for doing something bad”.
    I need to specify that this student as only discover a few months ago the pleasures of reading.
    I think that people not familiar with books and reading, will hardly be influenced by a book. At the best, the know it’s part of their culture, but without identifying with it.

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  6. Berry

    When I think of children's literature often times I think about how the earliest stories children are taught seem to have moral attached to them, or at least lessons. The earliest stories for American children seem to be fables, and like Gon they often contain animals. Usually, children's stories are not too sad. Sometimes, like in the case of more modern children's stories they are comical. For example, my younger sister had a book about pigs playing hide and seek in a house. The book taught children how to count to 100 and also to look for things that are out of the ordinary. I think this book was more of an example of how children's books incorporate a fun activity in with the learning.

    Some children's books on the other hand tend to be a little darker like Gon was at the end. My grandmother was from Germany so I grew up with the German versions of Grimm's Fables, which are often a lot scarier and sadder than the American adaptations. For example, in the Disney Cinderella, the ugly step sisters try on the glass slipper but can not fit their feet into it. In the original version, the sister's cut of their toes in an attempt to trick the prince. Their lies are of course discovered and they must live the rest of their lives unhappily as a result of trying to lie. These stories also teach lessons, but in a much less light-hearted way. So, my childhood contained stories of both natures.

    I do still children's literature now that I am older, and I look forward to reading to my own children. In America, its not uncommon to reference a children's story, especially those that your peers will also know. For example, when I was leaving the United States to come to Japan, my sister bought me a cake. On the top of the cake she wrote " Oh, the places you go, Oh, the people you'll see" which is a famous line from the Dr. Suess book, "Oh! The Places You'll Go!". The book basically describes all the wonderful experiences you can have by opening yourself up to the world. In fact, I know several people who were given the book when graduating college as a good luck book for future success.

    My host mom informs me that most Japanese heave read Gon and that the school my host brother attends uses it as required reading for their 4th grade level. So, this makes me think that most children today still hear the story of Gon and that it is much like the books Americans pass down to their own children. However, my host brother did not show much interest in the story, so I think perhaps the older generation in Japan thinks more fondly upon the story than the current generation.

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  7. Question #1! 児童文学のイメージ・・・

    First, I should say that I absolutely love children's literature. I have loved it my whole life and even as I've gotten older I have not lost my love for it. Part of this, I'm sure, is nostalgia. The other part of it is my love for stories; telling, writing and listening to them. In fact, for most of my life, I have written stories myself and done illustrations with them. After graduating highschool, I had originally hoped to be a children's book artist. While that career is no longer something I persue, I still work on books and drawings in my spare time.

    Part of the reason for this great love of children's literature is because of the very nature of the children for whom it is written. Children do not see the world the same way adults do. Children see new things around them every day and do not (until taught to) discriminate or even define the things around them the way adults do. Things in the world still remain nameless to children. Although the word is somewhat cliched at this point, it is still the best word to describe the child's view of the world: wonder! Children are full of wonder for the things around them. Everything is interesting, everything potentially has value because the child is the one who puts value on it.

    Because of this, children's literature also carries this feeling of wonder. A reader does not feel obligated to think one thing or another. The books for children tend to show the world in a way that inspires thought, but casual thought that comes easily. Most of the pretensions of adults are absent. Also! Pictures! They say "a picture's worth a thousand words".. and I say.. "then why don't more adults' books have pictures"!?

    This leads neatly into what I think children's literature should be. What I've already said includes most of it. It should draw in the mind effortlessly and allow it to explore.. whether it's history, modern times, fiction, scary, exciting, sad.. it doesn't matter as long as it allows the reader to view a bit more of the world, even if that world is the one of the imagination. I place a lot of value in imagination. Since it's not "real" many people think it's useless.. but we think about many things, and what imagination is, is excercise for the mind! What could be better for a child? For anyone?

    In short, any story which carries an innocent wonder is likely sufficient. :3

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