소설 텍스트 시제이동의 한 가지 새로운 기능 - 김훈의 <남한산성>을 중심으로 -

Abstract

This paper proposes a new function of tense shift. In general, the past tense is not firmly maintained in Korean novel’s narratives, thus sometimes, the present tense is used to indicate an event that already occurred. This phenomenon is called the historical present tense usage. However, we cannot find this type of tense shift in <Namhansanseong>, a novel written by Kim Hun. In this viewpoint, <Namhansanseong> can be regarded as an exceptional novel. I would like to point out a new dimension of tense shift function in this novel. It is the function that distinguishes descriptions from dialogues, i.e., it is the marker that shows the border between them. In <Namhansanseong> all the narratives are in the past tense, but all dialogues use the present tense. Thus, the element of tense is the most remarkable index of their boundary. There are no other markers that indicate which parts are narratives, and which portions are dialogues. Even quotation marks do not exist in <Namhansanseong>, although they are generally used to indicate dialogues in Korean novels. Thus, the readers of <Namhansanseong> might have difficulty in recognizing dialogues themselves. In this paper, I propose the use of a tense shift device that enables readers to distinguish dialogues from narratives. In addition, I propose two subsidiary devices. One is the transmit verb, and the other is the clue word. They are meant to help the readers identify the border between narratives and dialogues supporting the tense shift function.