The House as Setting, Symbol, and Structural Motif in Children's Literature

Book excerpt: This study examines the function and significance of houses in children's literature, concentrating on a close reading of a large number of representative texts. The houses that children live in, move to or visit in these novels are especially striking and unforgettable. Throughout the fiction the house is a dominant setting, occupying a prominent place and producing a powerful imaginative impact upon the reader. This book addresses the need for a comprehensive examination of the symbolic and structural patterns of domestic settings in children's literature. It was written especially for those who would like to see children's literature placed in the same context and judged by the same criteria as its adult counterpart.