A Classificatory Study On English Children's Verse

Children began to have their own identity in the middle of the eighteenth century. Later, with the rapid political and economical development in western countries, children are being respected as independent social beings, and children's education is attached greater importance to. It is under such circumstances that children's literature appears as a separate branch of literature. Being part of children's literature, children's verse keeps pace with the former in development. During the past several hundred years, English children's verse has produced numerous classics. Children of all times love and enjoy reading these verses. The classics of children's verse have influenced generations of children, and adults as well. These treasures for mankind deserve every effort of study.With the development of science and technology in recent years, computers and other media are catching more and more youngsters'attention and interest. Children's literature should better develop to provide guidance for young people. More first-class literary works should be created to meet the need of young readers; and researches in this field should follow up to guarantee the sustained prosperity of children's literature.On the basis of her own understanding and appreciation, the author of this thesis thinks it necessary to make a classificatory study of children's verses in light of the most prominent themes of all time to share her experience with others in the academic world.This thesis is presented in five parts.The introductory part states the motivation in choosing this topic, with a brief introduction to children's verse. This is followed by a literature review of the criticism on English children's verse in China and abroad, pointing to the fact that studies of English children's verse leave much to be desired, which gives reason for the author's attempt on this subject. It also outlines the structure of this thesis.Chapter One,"A survey of English Children's Literature and Children's Verse", gives the background knowledge and a convenient guide to the study of English children's verse by outlining the development of English children's literature and children's verse in chronological order.Chapter Two,"Features of English Children's Verse", is an exploration of the typical features of English children's verse. Children's verse is defined as a form of poetry suitable for children to read, understand, and enjoy; it agrees with the special psychological features of children. Due to their different aesthetic taste, reading ability and psychological level, children's verses have unique features in language and style.Chapter Three,"Classification of English Children's Verses"is the major part of this thesis. Much as it is a fact that everything in the world may be a subject for poetry, four themes have been found to be the most prominent. Based on this understanding, the author of this paper makes bold to classify English children's verse into four categories, namely, verses of nature, of exhortation, of entertainment, and of fantasy.The concluding part sums up the paper and gives some suggestions for the further development of children's verse. The present research may be the first of its kind, and the author is open to suggestion or criticism in all earnestness. She will be comforted if her effort can arouse popular interest in English children's verse.