The Children’s Campaign (Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Pär Lagerkvist
- First Published: 1935
- Type of Plot: Satire
- Time of Work: 1978
- Setting: An anonymous country
- Principal Characters: The children, The adults
- Genres: Short fiction, Satire, Political fiction
- Subjects: Children, War, Nationalism, Armies, Sacrifice
The Story
At the beginning of “The Children's Campaign,” the reader is introduced to a nationalistic and militant society, in which children play an integral role in the country's defense. The children between the ages of six and fourteen constitute a highly respected and beloved children's army, which they command, train, and organize without adult intervention. The boys serve in the army corps, and the girls are allowed to volunteer as nurses.
An apparently inferior country insults, in some manner, this more powerful, unified nation, and the children's army...
[The entire page is 1387 words long]
