沈宜麟의 『朝鮮童話大集』에 나타난 寓意의 유형과 그 의미

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to examine the allegorical quality of the stories in the Great Collection of Fables from Joseon (『朝鮮童話大集』) compiled in 1926 by Sim Eui-rin. To achieve the purpose, the author selected 11 allegorical stories from the collection of 66 fables, and analyzed the meaning of their allegories. The stories were classified into three types: 1) an allegory of reciprocated kindness and betrayal; 2) an allegory of deception; and 3) an allegory of victory and defeat. The stories of the first type, which allegorize reciprocated kindness and betrayal, include "The Ungrateful Tiger(恩惠몰으는虎狼이)," "The Frog Saint(개구리 神仙)" and "The Hooded Cat(두건을 쓴 고양이)." Second, an allegory about deception can be found in such stories as "The Rabbit's Wisdom (兎의 智慧)," "The Clever Fox(꾀잇는 여호)," "The 60th Birthday Party for the Goat(염소의 還甲 宴會)," "The Dog and the Tiger(개와 범)“ and "Oejjok's Wit(외쪽의 꾀).” Third, the stories like "Ddeokbo's Success(떡보의成功)," "The County Governor and the Child(郡守와小兒)" and "The Boy Governor(少年郡守)" represent an allegory about victory and defeat. The study also analyzed the meaning implied by each type of allegory. The allegory about reciprocated kindness and betrayal represent a criticism against Japanese colonizers. The allegory of deception alludes to the lamentable social conditions under Japanese rule, and the allegory of victory and defeat attempts to claim Joseon's cultural superiority over its colonizer, Japan.