L’ÉVOLUTION DU PERSONNAGE-ENFANT DANS LES MALHEURS DE SOPHIE & POIL DE CAROTTE. Les relations de pouvoir enfant-adulte dans la littérature enfantine française du XIXe siècle

Abstract

Departing from the notion of aetonormativity, which questions the adult as norm and the child as deviation in children’s literature, the aim of this study is to examine the development of the child character and the child-adult power relations in French children’s literature from the 19th century. The character development is examined by analyzing the course of events of the child’s actions (mischief) – the adult reaction (punishment) – the child’s response, and how that contributes to develop the child-character along the narrative, to find out whether the child develops according to adult norms. The study is based on the novels Sophie’s Misfortunes and Poil de Carotte (Carrot Top). We find that the character Sophie often is punished for her mischief. With the notion of aetonormativity we propose that the purpose is to show that punishment serves to correct a child. Sophie does not develop, but the adult norm is not contested. The character Poil de Carotte is rather punished for who he is. He does not meet the expectations of his parents, but becomes an adult faster due to the punishments he endures. In that way the character still develops according to the adult norm.