그림책의 은유와 환상성 연구

Abstract

Metaphor and Fantasy in Picture Books This study examined the literary features of picture books, a genre of children’s literature. To this end, the representative works of several famous writers were analyzed. In general, most research into picture books has focused on the aspect of early childhood education. This study found that while picture books whose main readers were children comprised short narratives, they were an attractive medium with rich content which had to be read with thought and feeling. In short, picture books are a medium containing the beauty of space and condensation through the weaving of pictures and narratives. Picture books stimulate the imagination of readers as if it were necessary to read between the lines containing literary value, such as the metaphorical element. Metaphorical expression requires more effort than verbatim expression in understanding content. Some might be concerned if picture books were too difficult for children, the main readers, to understand. However, as Chukovskii pointed out, only children are able to create and accept new metaphors just as they frequently make creative linguistic mistakes. Another feature of picture books is the emphasis on fantasy. The dominant element in children’s literature including picture books is fantasy. While fantasy in picture books is also as strange a world as metaphorical expression, children’s natural inclination to accept strange things is the unique privilege of children, just as in their creative linguistic mistakes. This is the reason why children can be absorbed in strange fantasy. As discussed above, this study considered fantasy and metaphor as the ruling authority in picture books. Such features act as the literary elements in picture books and, at the same time, expand the imagination of children.