Animals Are Us: Anthropomorphism in Children’s Literature; Celebrating the Peter J. Solomon Collection
Why do we tell stories to children through and about animals? Are there reasons why we shouldn’t? Animals Are Us invites explores these questions and more through influential historic examples of anthropomorphism in dialogue with contemporary books drawn from the collection of Peter J. Solomon (Harvard College Class of 1960, MBA 1963) and the holdings of Houghton Library. The exhibition invites you to engage critically with animal anthropomorphism, and delight in the artfulness of this enduring literary genre. Catalog of an exhibition on view at Houghton Library, Harvard University, September 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022.
Why do we tell stories to children through and about animals? Are there reasons why we shouldn’t? Animals Are Us invites explores these questions and more through influential historic examples of anthropomorphism in dialogue with contemporary books drawn from the collection of Peter J. Solomon (Harvard College Class of 1960, MBA 1963) and the holdings of Houghton Library. The exhibition invites you to engage critically with animal anthropomorphism, and delight in the artfulness of this enduring literary genre.
Catalog of an exhibition on view at Houghton Library, Harvard University, September 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
7<br />
Unknown author<br />
Gustav Sigismund <strong>Peter</strong>s (American, 1793–1847, illustrator)<br />
The Courtship, Marriage, &c. of Cock Rob<strong>in</strong> & Jenny Wren<br />
Harrisburg, PA: G. S. <strong>Peter</strong>s, 1832<br />
14 x 9 cm<br />
Houghton Library, Typ 870.32.3017<br />
Gift of <strong>Peter</strong> J. <strong>Solomon</strong>, 2020<br />
The orig<strong>in</strong>s of Jenny Wren and Cock Rob<strong>in</strong> are murky.<br />
The story of <strong>the</strong> courtship, marriage, and accidental kill<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of Cock Rob<strong>in</strong> at <strong>the</strong> birds' wedd<strong>in</strong>g feast first appeared<br />
<strong>in</strong> 1744 <strong>in</strong> Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book, <strong>the</strong> earliest<br />
known published compendium of nursery rhymes. By<br />
<strong>the</strong> early n<strong>in</strong>eteenth century, this tragic rhyme enjoyed<br />
enormous popularity. Talk<strong>in</strong>g birds relate <strong>the</strong> story of<br />
romance and tragedy, convey<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> most human of<br />
emotions: love and despair.<br />
38
Change language