Ellenor Fenn, Cobwebs to Catch Flies

Pamela Price (Cardiff University)

Ed. by Dimitra Fimi, University of Glasgow, Dainy Bernstein, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1783

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Children's Literature

Resources

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Cobwebs to Catch Flies: or dialogues in short sentences, adapted to children from the age of three to eight years. In two volumes…Volume 1 of 2 and 2

, by Lady Ellenor Fenn (1743-1813), was first published in two volumes anonymously in 1783, and later published under the pseudonyms Mrs Teachwell and Mrs Lovechild.

Cobwebs to Catch Flies

is a significant contribution to children’s literature and education because not only was it revolutionary for its time in that it was written for readers of different ages (three to five years and five to eight years), but it was written in dialogues, as opposed to other primers which were written in single sentences. It was also aimed to entertain its reader by referring to their particular interests such as playthings, games, animals and trips…

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2530 words

Citation: Price, Pamela. "Cobwebs to Catch Flies". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 November 2022 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=40700, accessed 24 April 2024.]

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