Villains+of+Traditional+and+Children's+Literature

Milena Phillips Kelsey Reider Andre Sabbath Casey Smith
 * Group Members:**


 * Starting Points to Consider:**
 * What villains are found in traditional literature (folklore, including fairytales/folktales and Greek/Roman mythology, Biblical villains)? What criteria or characteristics make a villain in traditional literature? Are there different criteria for male and female villains? Do male and female villains have the same motives and fates?


 * What makes a modern villain (children’s literature mainly, but also film)? What are his/her strengths and weaknesses (including tragic flaws)? What kind of background is typical for a villain (ancestry, childhood, socioeconomic status, etc.)? Why does the modern villain behave the way he/she does? Are there different criteria for male and female modern villains? Do they have the same motives and fates?


 * Who are some of the villains in the Harry Potter series? Are they typical modern villains or do they reflect traditional literature villains? What examples of villains can you find in other children’s literature or children’s media (film, comics, manga, TV shows)?


 * Why were witches considered evil, especially in the 1500-1600s? What did real witches do, and why was this a threat to the Church? How are current images of witches and witchcraft in culture and literature different (and the same)?