Abstract

This master's thesis studies the representations of fear, to uncover the emotional model transmitted by the authors of children's literature in Quebec, mainly of the "first novels" category. This category of novel is written for children 6 to 9 years of age. Our study is based on these novels spanning the decade 1995 to 2005. The representations of fear are addressed via three distinct areas of expertise: children's developmental psychology, literary theory and Gender Studies. The first chapter examines the field of children's literature research, the second chapter studies different aspects of fear, the third chapter identifies the narrative strategies authors employ, to finally define the emotional model which is inscribed in the "first novel" published in Québec today. The study of the representations of fear establishes a masculine emotional model. This model transmits established social values and helps to restructure ideals of masculinity.