Abstract

This article deals with the moral values and social issues described in the school story of the famous English writer Sarah Fielding “The Governess, or the Little Female Academy”, which is considered one of notable works written specifically for children in the Age of Enlightenment. The article examines some of the components of the genre “School Story” – the traditional opening and description of the daily routine of an educational institution for girls, plot twists, certain characters, etc. At the same time, following Sarah Fielding’s ideas, the author scrutinises the issue of children's reading and the need to discuss its content with adults. Using the examples of the wards' stories about their life before school, the problem of interpersonal relations of characters is analysed – within a family, with parents, brothers and sisters, other relatives, governesses and servants; whereas outside it, with representatives of various social groups. Much attention is paid to the depiction of behaviour etiquette and constant striving for perfection, as well as control over various emotions. As a result of the study, it is concluded that school stories are useful for young readers due to their topicality and positive general attitude, which allows adolescents to overcome numerous life difficulties during the formation and development of their personalities.

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