The arc of the rope swing: humour, poetry, and spirituality in Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

This essay analyzes the classic American children's novel, Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White, which tells of a sophisticated spider's rescue of a piglet who is being prepared for slaughter. The ‘arc of the rope swing' refers to a rope swing enjoyed by children in the novel; it is al...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Thomas, Trudelle H. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Taylor & Francis [2016]
In: International journal of children's spirituality
Year: 2016, Volume: 21, Issue: 3/4, Pages: 201-215
IxTheo Classification:CB Christian life; spirituality
CD Christianity and Culture
KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history
NBD Doctrine of Creation
NBE Anthropology
Further subjects:B Memento mori
B Humility
B Children's Literature
B Humour
B trust in being
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)

MARC

LEADER 00000caa a22000002 4500
001 1576911500
003 DE-627
005 20210308084843.0
007 cr uuu---uuuuu
008 180627s2016 xx |||||o 00| ||eng c
024 7 |a 10.1080/1364436X.2016.1228618  |2 doi 
035 |a (DE-627)1576911500 
035 |a (DE-576)506911500 
035 |a (DE-599)BSZ506911500 
040 |a DE-627  |b ger  |c DE-627  |e rda 
041 |a eng 
084 |a 1  |2 ssgn 
100 1 |a Thomas, Trudelle H.  |e VerfasserIn  |4 aut 
245 1 4 |a The arc of the rope swing  |b humour, poetry, and spirituality in Charlotte's Web by E. B. White  |c Trudelle H. Thomas 
264 1 |c [2016] 
336 |a Text  |b txt  |2 rdacontent 
337 |a Computermedien  |b c  |2 rdamedia 
338 |a Online-Ressource  |b cr  |2 rdacarrier 
520 |a This essay analyzes the classic American children's novel, Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White, which tells of a sophisticated spider's rescue of a piglet who is being prepared for slaughter. The ‘arc of the rope swing' refers to a rope swing enjoyed by children in the novel; it is also a metaphor for the way White holds opposing forces in tension. Most noteworthy is the tension between poetic language and humour in the novel; White uses both to convey a sense of ultimate goodness and trust-in-being. Poetic language sets a contemplative tone (‘poetic pauses') and conveys spiritual themes, including delight, wonder at the beauty of the natural world, ‘divine discontent' (yearning), memento mori, sorrow and hope. In contrast, White's ‘gracious humour' is fast-paced and entertaining; it keeps the novel from being too preachy or solemn. His humour includes 1) wordplay (including the juxtaposition of incongruous words and images; dramatic irony; and puns ), 2) comedic characters (Wilbur as lovable buffoon, Charlotte as incisive wisdom figure) and 3) satire (scorn for human gullibility, arrogance and poor treatment of animals). White sharply satirises human arrogance and demonstrates the value of humility (embodied in Charlotte and Wilbur). The article also contains brief summaries of Charlotte's Web and of White's biography, and it concludes with a substantial set of “talking points” for discussing the novel's spiritual themes with children. 
650 4 |a Humour 
650 4 |a Children's Literature 
650 4 |a Humility 
650 4 |a Memento mori 
650 4 |a trust in being 
652 |a CB:CD:KAJ:NBD:NBE 
773 0 8 |i Enthalten in  |t International journal of children's spirituality  |d London [u.a.] : Taylor & Francis, 1996  |g 21(2016), 3/4, Seite 201-215  |h Online-Ressource  |w (DE-627)320589013  |w (DE-600)2018670-8  |w (DE-576)263253384  |x 1469-8455  |7 nnns 
773 1 8 |g volume:21  |g year:2016  |g number:3/4  |g pages:201-215 
856 4 0 |u https://doi.org/10.1080/1364436X.2016.1228618  |x Verlag  |3 Volltext 
951 |a AR 
ELC |a 1 
ITA |a 1  |t 1 
LOK |0 000 xxxxxcx a22 zn 4500 
LOK |0 001 3013900555 
LOK |0 003 DE-627 
LOK |0 004 1576911500 
LOK |0 005 20210308084843 
LOK |0 008 180627||||||||||||||||ger||||||| 
LOK |0 040   |a DE-Tue135  |c DE-627  |d DE-Tue135 
LOK |0 092   |o n 
LOK |0 852   |a DE-Tue135 
LOK |0 852 1  |9 00 
LOK |0 935   |a ixzs  |a ixzo 
LOK |0 936ln  |0 1442043857  |a CD 
LOK |0 936ln  |0 1442043768  |a CB 
LOK |0 936ln  |0 144205168X  |a NBE 
LOK |0 936ln  |0 1442051531  |a NBD 
LOK |0 936ln  |0 1442044640  |a KAJ 
ORI |a SA-MARC-ixtheoa001.raw 
STA 0 0 |a Memento mori 
STB 0 0 |a Memento mori 
STC 0 0 |a Memento mori 
STD 0 0 |a Memento mori 
STE 0 0 |a 记住你将会死亡,人终须一死 
STF 0 0 |a 記住你將會死亡,人終須一死 
STG 0 0 |a Memento mori 
STH 0 0 |a Memento mori 
STI 0 0 |a Memento mori