Why I Chose "A Child's Garden of Verses"

In my story, the protagonist's mother insists that his caregivers continuously read "A Child's Garden of Verses" to him. She struggles to accept that her son is no longer a child and believes it's acceptable to confine him within the walls of her mansion. (There’s more to this backstory...)

When I began crafting the narrative, I wanted my characters to engage with a classic children’s book. After researching titles from Victorian children's literature, "A Child's Garden of Verses" stood out as the perfect choice.

I selected this book because I recalled reading some of its poems during my childhood. Even at the tender age of six or seven, I found some of the poems overly sentimental. So, one can only imagine the frustration a grown man would feel if he had to read it repeatedly.

Initially, my intention was for this book to simply be a recurring mention, symbolizing the protagonist, Peter's, growing annoyance. This literary piece represents his mother's refusal to confront reality and her desire to keep him tethered to a past marred by tragedy that affected both of her children.

I planned for a climactic moment towards the end where Peter would declare, "But you can tell her I'll be reading A Child's Fucking Garden of Fucking Verses." Cute, right? However, I realized only yesterday that I needed to delve deeper into this aspect.

Discovering More in "A Child's Garden of Verses"

Over the weekend, I stumbled upon a vintage copy of the book at an antique shop during a birthday trip to Frederick, Maryland. I could have easily walked away, as I already owned a newer reprint of "A Child's Garden of Verses" that I had never utilized.

However, the vintage edition from the 1930s caught my eye with its charming appearance. I later discovered it was illustrated by Clara M. Burd, a celebrated children's book illustrator. Intrigued, I decided to purchase it.

Upon reviewing my new acquisition, I began reading the first few poems, finally paying close attention to the work I had referenced. What an enlightening experience!

As I read, I imagined how my character, Peter, would react to these verses. Picture a 25-year-old man, trapped in his parents' home for years—much like a figure from a Gothic tale. Consider what he has missed out on.

Reading the poems from Peter's perspective evoked sadness. It dawned on me that he wouldn’t merely be annoyed or bored by the book; he would also feel sorrow and anger. Some poems might even provide him with a sense of solace. For instance, the poem "Where Go the Boats" reminded him of a brook he played in during his carefree childhood.

Conversely, "Rain" provoked anger in him, as he could scarcely recall the sensation of raindrops on his skin—his experience limited to watching the rain from behind barred windows.

I decided to weave these insights into an existing scene. "A Child's Garden of Verses" transformed from a mere literary reference into a significant element of the narrative. The pivotal moment occurs when Peter takes Jane, the heroine, to his barred window to show her the brook. He then shares his feelings about the poem "Rain," detailing how it evokes both sadness and frustration. This scene became unexpectedly intimate, leading to a tender moment between them before their anticipated kiss. (Characters rarely follow the script we lay out for them, do they?)

Had I simply mentioned the book a few times, it would have sufficed. But by exploring its deeper implications, I enriched the meaning of "A Child's Garden of Verses" within the story.

Section 1.1: Navigating Literary Quotes

Understanding how to properly quote published works can be quite challenging. There are numerous complex elements to consider, making it a potential legal minefield. This topic merits a comprehensive discussion, which extends beyond my expertise as I am not a lawyer.

When characters engage in discussions about a literary work, it’s crucial to quote carefully. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the copyright laws in your country. In my case, I ensured that the material I referenced is in the public domain in the U.S. (As highlighted in this article, determining public domain status can be more intricate than it appears.) If you’re uncertain, it’s safer to avoid direct quotations from works that are not in the public domain, as you may need to obtain permissions and possibly pay the rights holder. While some uses may qualify as "fair use," this area is quite nuanced.

If you wish to quote a public domain poem, this forum thread offers useful strategies. Additionally, this blog post outlines copyright and usage challenges. For a more updated discussion on the topic, check out this recent article.

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