English 12
Children’s Literature Analysis
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Critical (Literary) Theory
Title: William’s Doll
General Overview of the Story:
William is a child who wants a doll to take care
of as if it is his child, and he is its father. He
is ridiculed by his brother and his brother’s
friends for wanting a doll. They tell him it makes
him a creep and a sissy. His father gives him all kinds of
other toys, and he plays with them all the time, but he still
wants a doll. His grandmother comes over and talks to him,
she thinks it is great that he wants a doll, so she buys him
one. His father is upset, but the grandmother convinces him
that by having the doll, and taking care of it, William will
learn how to be a good father just like his dad when he gets
older.
Questions
• What do you believe was the author’s purpose for writing the story?
I believe the author wrote the story to give children a book
that showed them that it was ok for boys to play with dolls.
• What outright messages are portrayed to the reader?
The book shows the reader the prejudices and bullying that
can occur when someone wants to do something that is not
generally accepted by the masses – such as a boy playing with dolls.
• What hidden or less perceptible messages are portrayed?
The less perceptible messages that are displayed are the power of
influence parents can have over a child’s world view. The child does
not recognize gender norms until the outside world puts those ideas
in their heads.
Analysis After Reading the
Second Time
Lens: Gender Studies
Description:
William is a child who wants a doll to take care of as if it is his child, and he is its father.
He is ridiculed by his brother and his brother’s friends for wanting a doll. His father gives him all kinds of
other toys, and he plays with them all the time, but he still wants a doll. His grandmother buys him a doll.
His father is upset, but the grandmother convinces him that by having the doll, and taking care of it,
William will learn how to be a good father when he gets older.
Analysis:
Masculinity is portrayed by the brother and the neighbor playing sports, and the fathers push to
play with balls and trains. Femininity is portrayed as being interested in dolls – as displayed when the
neighbor girl comes over with her dolls. Females go shopping – grandmother, and play with dolls – neighbor.
William steps outside of what is expected of him by requesting a doll and is ridiculed for it, and his father
tries to convince him to like other things. The only person that thinks that his interest in dolls is ok is his
grandmother, and coincidentally, is the only female in the story. The little girl and grandmother wear
dresses and skirts, and the grandmother is the one that goes shopping. The boys are the ones that have
difficulties with William going against cultural expectations, and stereotypically call him names for it.
Conclusion:
In our society, there are gender rules that pervade our everyday lives. These roles are not
something we are born with, they are learned. We learn through television, the media, and even our own
parents, that we are to behave a certain way based on our sex. This story tries to dispel this myth, but
the characters in the story are still gendered. As far as our current cultural expectations are concerned,
while there has been some progress, the perception of male and female roles are still pretty rigid.
Your Turn!
• Find a Children’s Book
• Read it!
• Fill out the Critical (Literary) Theory
page
• Read it again!
• Fill out the Children’s Literature
Critical Analysis Sheet