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In:The Moving Canon(s) of Slavic Children’s Literature
Edited by Mateusz Swietlicki, Dorota Michułka and Zofia Zasacka
[Children’s Literature, Culture, and Cognition 20] 2026
► pp. 118–139

Chapter 6
The canon of Polish adolescents’ spontaneous reading choices

This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
This chapter examines the functions and meanings of the literary canon in modern times, beginning with Harold Bloom and moving to Terry Eagleton’s and John Guillory’s approaches. Against this theoretical background, the contemporary Polish school canon is analyzed in relation to the reading habits and literary preferences of teenagers in Poland. The author argues for incorporating popular and young adult literature into the curriculum and aligning students’ expectations with the values represented in the canon. Findings from a national survey of 15-year-old students provide empirical evidence of their reading expectations, literary tastes, and interpretive practices. While the curriculum should preserve national values, it must also respond to contemporary realities and engage students’ attention.
Article outline
  • The canonization of popular culture and the democratization of fine arts and literary canons
  • The canon revisited in schools
  • Young adults’ reading expectations and the curriculum
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (57)
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