1950년대 대학의 ‘국어국문학’ 과목 편제와 ‘고전강독’ 강좌의 탄생

Abstract

This paper tried the historical and cultural approach on the formation process of department of Korean language and literature in the university during 1950's, especially focusing on the Korean Classical Literature part.; what was the distinctive characteristics of research methodology about Korean classical literature? Was it possible to premise there was a unique methodology on Korean classical literature? If it was possible, what was the main points which were different from the methodology of Korean modern literature or literature itself? To approach such questions, this paper analyzed the historical process of formation of reading classes, only arranged in Korean classical literature part in case of the department of Korean language and literature. During colonial period in Korea, at the Kyungsung imperial university, which were influenced from the Tokyo imperial university, the concept of ‘national literature’ meant practically Japanese literature, not Korean one. However, during the same period, there weren't organized any reading classes amongest Japanese literature part in Tokyo imperial university. A series of reading classes were organized only in Kyungsung imperial university, moreover those classes were about the ancient times literature written by chinese characters, not Korean alphabet, Hangeul, which could be considered as far past, contrast concept of the early modern age. Understanding Chinese writing which were written in Chosŏn Period by Chosŏn writers was the main ability of university students who were majoring Japanese literature and also Chosŏn literature. Such system made organize the reading classes and practice classes, in the latter, the students played main roles as presenters in those classes, as the main ones of Japanese and Chosŏn literature parts at Kyungsung imperial university. In such process, the study of classical literature came to be regarded as a study of literature itself, not contemporary literature. In such historical process, the literacy itself was regarded as the important ability of university students who were trained academically through completing a college courses in Korean language and literature, especially in the classic part, from 1950's and until now. The professors had the decisive role by selecting and translating the texts which should be read in the reading classes with the students arbitrarily. There weren't any other process to decide those things; What text was the original version? What text should be read in the university classes? And what was the canon which regarded the important text, all the Korean people and the graduates who majored Korea classical literature should know?