Canon versus classic, traditional texts versus key texts. A differentiation of terms in the context of historical and topical developments in Austrian children’s and young adult literature.

Abstract

The following article is a continuation of two of the author’s prior contributions and aims at differentiating more precisely between the related terms traditional texts and key texts. The objective is to develop a theory that allows for a variety of levels of the theme of childhood, developed on the basis of two pairs of terms, canon – classic on the one hand, and traditional text – key text on the other. Methodologically, this should ensure new perspectives on individual works within a number of different contexts. On this basis, Austrian classics or traditional texts can be revisited as to their relevance for a canon and juxtaposed with more recent books by Austrian authors whose theme is childhood, adding a further dimension for reflection on the situation of children’s literature in Austria.