호랑이 여자들이 보여주는 고전문학교육의 길- 호랑이를 덫에 가두면을 중심으로

Abstract

This study explores the significance of classical literature education in keeping classical literature vibrant, using the novel When You Trap a Tiger as its focal point. The novel serves as an exemplary manifestation of an ideal classical literature education scenario. Firstly, it showcases the extent of narrative resources embedded in our cultural heritage, articulating their vast potential through the intertextual integration of diverse Korean stories. Reading such narratives transforms individuals into a ‘Korean,’ connecting them with a broader storytelling tradition and expanding their sense of self. Nevertheless, storytelling traditions are diverse; they constitute a collection of scattered stories, akin to constellations, shaped into a ‘visible’ form through individual interpretation. In this novel, the protagonist, Lily, gathers Korean stories, including the vanished tiger from the Dangun Myth and the mother transformed into a tiger in Sun and Moon Entwined. By incorporating her story, Lily crafts the tale of courageous yet affectionate tiger women, offering her responses to and inquiries about traditional narratives. Classical literature, much like story stars within a jar in the novel awaiting rediscovery, remains open to reinterpretation. As implied by literary therapy, we all embody an epic presence that spans the past and envisions the future. Classical tales serve as mirrors, shared canvases, and malleable materials for reflection, writing, and rewriting. Like Lily, Identifying with stories that reflect oneself and navigating one's story akin to a tiger, or amending unwanted stories in alignment with personal planning, all contribute to internalizing and personalizing narratives. This process broadens the intersection of literature and life, enabling literature to facilitate personal and existential transformations.