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”Det kunde lika gärna ha hänt idag” : Maj Bylocks Drakskeppstrilogi och historiemedvetande hos barn i mellanåldrarna

Ingemansson, Mary LU (2010) In Skrifter utgivna av svenska barnboksinstitutet 107.
Abstract
The aim of this thesis, <i>The Historical Novel and Historical Consciousness in ten- to twelve-year-olds - Maj Bylocks

Drakskeppstrilogi in Theory and Practice</i>, is to illustrate the possibilities for pupils of the ages between ten to

twelve to develop their historical consciousness by participating in classroom work making use of fiction as a

central source of knowledge.

<br>

In the first part of the thesis the three novels in the trilogy about the Viking age by the Swedish author Maj

Bylock, <i>Drakskeppet</i> (1997), <i>Det gyllne svärdet</i> (1998) and <i>Borgen i fjärran</i> (1998), are analyzed. The purpose is

to... (More)
The aim of this thesis, <i>The Historical Novel and Historical Consciousness in ten- to twelve-year-olds - Maj Bylocks

Drakskeppstrilogi in Theory and Practice</i>, is to illustrate the possibilities for pupils of the ages between ten to

twelve to develop their historical consciousness by participating in classroom work making use of fiction as a

central source of knowledge.

<br>

In the first part of the thesis the three novels in the trilogy about the Viking age by the Swedish author Maj

Bylock, <i>Drakskeppet</i> (1997), <i>Det gyllne svärdet</i> (1998) and <i>Borgen i fjärran</i> (1998), are analyzed. The purpose is

to show the conditions given by the novels which could promote children’s own historical consciousness and

how the characters are portrayed in order for the readers to be able to identify with them. Two functions of

the novels are studied: <i>knowledge</i> and <i>analogy</i>. Within the analysis of analogy the concept of empowerment is

central to the portrayal of the protagonist.

<br>

The textual analysis shows that the protagonist’s situation as a migrant above all points to cultural encounters

both in the past and in the present time and further highlights the situation of the slaves in the Viking age.

The apparent analogy of the present time means that the novels are well suited to discussions about ethics, the

value of human beings and cultural encounters.

<br>

In the second part of the thesis I analyse 11-year-old children’s reading of Bylock’s trilogy. Three pupils’

texts, book talks and interviews and experiences of the novels have been documented during a six week long

thematic project on the Viking age. The analysis is conducted amongst others with the help of Judith A. Langer’s

concept envisionment building. The pupils’ historical consciousness development and newfound knowledge

can partly be related to the analogy and the themes found in the novels. With the assistance of the novels’

“living characters”, the exciting plot and an emotional envolvement the pupils have acquired knowledge and

at the same time developed their historical consciousness. Book talks are of crucial importance in this. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • professor Erixon, Per-Olof, Umeå universitet
organization
alternative title
”It could just as well have happened today” : Maj Bylock’s Drakskeppstrilogi and Historical Consciousness in ten- to twelve-year-olds
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Judith A. Langer, empowerment, cultural encounters, history, the Viking age, Borgen i fjärran (1998), Det gyllne svärdet (1998), Drakskeppet (1997), Maj Bylock, literature instruction, historical consciousness, The historical novel, the perspective of being the other, envisionment building, literature teaching, reception studies, didactic subject research
in
Skrifter utgivna av svenska barnboksinstitutet
volume
107
pages
352 pages
publisher
Makadam förlag
defense location
Edens hörsal, Paradisgatan 5H, Lund
defense date
2010-10-09 10:15:00
ISSN
0347-5387
ISBN
978-91-7061-086-8
language
Swedish
LU publication?
yes
id
9ae0afd2-cce3-4b0b-b3b8-7a359fbea498 (old id 1664195)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:33:44
date last changed
2019-05-23 17:02:03
@phdthesis{9ae0afd2-cce3-4b0b-b3b8-7a359fbea498,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this thesis, &lt;i&gt;The Historical Novel and Historical Consciousness in ten- to twelve-year-olds - Maj Bylocks<br/><br>
Drakskeppstrilogi in Theory and Practice&lt;/i&gt;, is to illustrate the possibilities for pupils of the ages between ten to<br/><br>
twelve to develop their historical consciousness by participating in classroom work making use of fiction as a<br/><br>
central source of knowledge.<br/><br>
&lt;br&gt;<br/><br>
In the first part of the thesis the three novels in the trilogy about the Viking age by the Swedish author Maj<br/><br>
Bylock, &lt;i&gt;Drakskeppet&lt;/i&gt; (1997), &lt;i&gt;Det gyllne svärdet&lt;/i&gt; (1998) and &lt;i&gt;Borgen i fjärran&lt;/i&gt; (1998), are analyzed. The purpose is<br/><br>
to show the conditions given by the novels which could promote children’s own historical consciousness and<br/><br>
how the characters are portrayed in order for the readers to be able to identify with them. Two functions of<br/><br>
the novels are studied: &lt;i&gt;knowledge&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;analogy&lt;/i&gt;. Within the analysis of analogy the concept of empowerment is<br/><br>
central to the portrayal of the protagonist.<br/><br>
&lt;br&gt;<br/><br>
The textual analysis shows that the protagonist’s situation as a migrant above all points to cultural encounters<br/><br>
both in the past and in the present time and further highlights the situation of the slaves in the Viking age.<br/><br>
The apparent analogy of the present time means that the novels are well suited to discussions about ethics, the<br/><br>
value of human beings and cultural encounters.<br/><br>
&lt;br&gt;<br/><br>
In the second part of the thesis I analyse 11-year-old children’s reading of Bylock’s trilogy. Three pupils’<br/><br>
texts, book talks and interviews and experiences of the novels have been documented during a six week long<br/><br>
thematic project on the Viking age. The analysis is conducted amongst others with the help of Judith A. Langer’s<br/><br>
concept envisionment building. The pupils’ historical consciousness development and newfound knowledge<br/><br>
can partly be related to the analogy and the themes found in the novels. With the assistance of the novels’<br/><br>
“living characters”, the exciting plot and an emotional envolvement the pupils have acquired knowledge and<br/><br>
at the same time developed their historical consciousness. Book talks are of crucial importance in this.}},
  author       = {{Ingemansson, Mary}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-7061-086-8}},
  issn         = {{0347-5387}},
  keywords     = {{Judith A. Langer; empowerment; cultural encounters; history; the Viking age; Borgen i fjärran (1998); Det gyllne svärdet (1998); Drakskeppet (1997); Maj Bylock; literature instruction; historical consciousness; The historical novel; the perspective of being the other; envisionment building; literature teaching; reception studies; didactic subject research}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  publisher    = {{Makadam förlag}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Skrifter utgivna av svenska barnboksinstitutet}},
  title        = {{”Det kunde lika gärna ha hänt idag” : Maj Bylocks Drakskeppstrilogi och historiemedvetande hos barn i mellanåldrarna}},
  volume       = {{107}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}