조선시대 自挽詩의 類型的 특성

Abstract

In Korean literary tradition, there is a kind of elegy which mourns the death of the poet himself, generally known as self-elegy poetry(自挽詩). Since the works of this kind are not fully known, I examine the typical characteristics of self-elegy poetry. Self-elegy poetry is one of the most representative style of auto-biographical writing along with autobiography, self-eulogy, self-epitaph, and writing on self-portrait. Since it is self- expression of what should be written by others, it is very unique. And self-elegy is much more unique, as it deals with the taboo of death. Existing self-elegy works are categorized into three types. First one is the poetry with a premonition of death. This type of works have resemblance to a will. Second type expresses a transcendent attitude toward the death. Third type is a poetry that fully shows self- expression and unreality through a fake ritual of death. And the third type of poetry is relatively less found. Because the poets in the Chosun dynasty were not willing to represent and assume the theme of “death of his own”. This fact can be interpreted that they cherished Confucian thinking which focuses on life while neglecting death. Self-elegy poetry in Chosun dynasty is meaningful from the perspective of literary theme, but fails to achieve typological characteristics.