Final Examination of
Angela C. Rasmussen
for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Abstract
The Book of Ruth for Children
Director: David Bosworth, Ph.D.
Adaptations of the Bible for children have been made for centuries, claiming to meet the developmental needs of children while attending to cultural perceptions of what is appropriate for children to read. They have received little scholarly attention. This dissertation examines one hundred English-language adaptations of the Book of Ruth published between 1980 and 2015 that are intended for children ages four to twelve. Scholars of children’s literature have observed several trends in the translation of children’s literature, three of which are used to analyze children’s Bible adaptations: cultural context adaptation accommodates elements of the text (e.g., vocabulary, literary forms, customs, etc.) from one culture to another; ideological manipulation modifies the text to suit cultural norms of appropriateness for children; finally, illustration interprets the story and emphasizes certain parts of the text by selecting them for illustration and by depicting them in a particular way.






The Catholic University of America * 620 Michigan Ave., N.E. * Washington, DC 20064