A Wrinkle in Autism Literature: An Analysis of Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time and Hope Larson’s A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel

Author

Marla Larson, Grand Valley State University

Date Approved

12-2019

Graduate Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

English (M.A.)

Degree Program

English

First Advisor

Robert Rozema

Second Advisor

Rachel Anderson

Third Advisor

Patrick Johnson

Fourth Advisor

Sherry Johnson

Academic Year

2019/2020

Abstract

This literature review will examine Madeleine L’Engle’s classic intermediate novel A Wrinkle in Time, and Hope Larson’s A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel. Medical scholarship regarding autism, comics scholarship, and comments from online contributors are used to describe how a comparison of these two texts can provide positive representation of autism in literature. Consideration for how these texts can be used together in the Language Arts classroom to develop the comprehension skills of students on the spectrum is also considered. This thesis first examines the character Charles Wallace in L’Engle’s original text and how he represents a positive presentation of an autistic character. Next, the comic conventions in Larson’s adaptation are examined and used to show how these two texts can be used together to address common comprehension challenges ASD students face when reading narrative texts.

ScholarWorks Citation

Larson, Marla, "A Wrinkle in Autism Literature: An Analysis of Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time and Hope Larson’s A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel" (2019). Masters Theses. 970.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/theses/970