Elizabeth Marie Pope facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Marie Pope
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Pope in 1965
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| Born | May 1, 1917 Washington, DC, USA |
| Died | August 4, 1992 (aged 75) Biddeford, Maine, USA |
| Occupation | Academic, writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | PhD Johns Hopkins University |
| Alma mater | Bryn Mawr College |
| Genre | Young adult historical fiction |
| Subject | English literature |
| Notable works | The Sherwood Ring The Perilous Gard |
| Notable awards | Newbery Honor |
Elizabeth Marie Pope (1917–1992) was an American writer and teacher. She loved studying old English literature, especially the works of John Milton and William Shakespeare. She is best known for her exciting young adult historical novels, which won a special award called the Newbery Honor.
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Early Life
Elizabeth Marie Pope was born on May 1, 1917, in Washington, D.C. Her father, Christopher Herman Pope, was a banker. Her mother was Florence Anna Thompson Pope. Elizabeth had two younger siblings, Wilmot and Mary Frances.
A Passion for Learning and Teaching
Elizabeth Pope loved to learn! She earned her first college degree from Bryn Mawr College in 1940. She then went on to Johns Hopkins University, where she earned her Ph.D. in 1944.
That same year, she started teaching English at Mills College in Oakland, CA. She taught there for 38 years! She began as an assistant professor and eventually became a full professor and even the head of the English Department. She retired on June 30, 1982.
An Inspiring Teacher
Many of Elizabeth Pope's students remembered her as an amazing teacher. One former student, Elaine B. Johnson, described Dr. Pope as polite, funny, and caring. She was great at helping students connect their own lives to the lessons in Shakespeare and Milton's works.
Dr. Pope was known for her lively lectures. She also encouraged class discussions by asking open-ended questions. She truly cared about what her students thought and said.
Her Interest in Myths
For many years, Elizabeth Pope taught a class about basic myths. She believed that myths could bring people and cultures together. In a speech in 1958, she said that modern people had achieved a "coming together of races and nations" through mythology.
She talked about different ways to understand myths:
- Historical: Myths might be twisted versions of real events.
- Psychological: Myths could show our hidden desires and fears.
- Anthropological: Myths might be linked to important life events like birth or marriage.
- Analytic: This is a more scientific way to study myths, breaking them down into parts.
Pope wondered if modern people could still create new myths, or if we were only good at studying them.
Other Activities
Elizabeth Pope was part of several important groups. These included the American Association of University Professors, the Renaissance Society, the Mediaeval Society of America, and the Society for Creative Anachronism.
Her Amazing Books
Elizabeth Marie Pope wrote two popular novels for young adults. Her book, The Perilous Gard, won the Newbery Honor award. This is a very special award for children's literature.
The Perilous Gard is an exciting historical fantasy story. It's based on an old folk tale called Tam Lin. The story takes place in England during the time of Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I. The main character, Kate, is a strong, smart, and independent young woman. The book also explores old pagan beliefs that existed in Britain long ago, even after Christianity arrived. It even mentions the famous King Arthur legends.
Novels
- The Sherwood Ring, 1958
- The Perilous Gard, 1974
Non-fiction
- Paradise Regained: The Tradition and the Poem, 1947
