황순원의 소년소설 「추억」 연구

Abstract

Hwang Soon-won’s youth novel “Memories(「추억」)” was published about three months earlier than the poem “My Dream(「나의 꿈」)”, which has so far been recognized as his debut work. The discovery of “Memories” has henceforth instigated arguments that call for a modification of Hwang’s chronology. No doubt was this discovery influential for not only Hwang’s personal chronology but also the literary history of Korean literature overall. It is true that research on Hwang which has established the poem “My Dream” and the novel “The Adverb of the Streets(「거리의 부사」)” as respectively the author’s debut work and his first novel should be revised. There are more than 40 children’s poems or children’s songs that precedes the release of “My Dream”. In the same vein, it is false to say that “The Adverb of the Street” is Hwang’s first novel, for even as we put “Memories” aside, “Graduation Day(「졸업일」)”(『Eorini(어린이)』, April, 1932) had been released five years ahead of the said piece. However, this thesis aims to prove wrong the arguments that “Memories” should be newly established as Hwang’s first novel and that his chronology ought to be revised accordingly. This is because “Memories” has been identified as a plagiarization of Park Hong-je’s “A Pitiable Sacrifice(「어엽 희생」)”. Firstly, the two works share the same motifs. Secondly, the narrative structures are also identical in their frame story forms. Thirdly, several instances of identical expressions are found. As such, if the content, format, and specific expressions are identical, it cannot be disputed that “Memories”, released in April 1931, is a plagiarization of “A Pitiable Sacrifice” which was published on July 1928. Thus, “Memories” cannot be considered Hwang’s first novel, and there is consequently no reason to revise his chronology. Should his chronology be revised, including his children’s literature pieces which have so far been neglected ought to be the priority.