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An Analysis of a Selection of English-Language Korean Folktale Picture Books

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An Analysis of a Selection of English-Language Korean Folktale Picture Books AN ANALYSIS OF A SELECTION OF ENGLISH-LANGUAGE KOREAN FOLKTALE PICTURE BOOKS by Sae Yong Kim B.A., Korea University, 2009 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Children‘s Literature) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) December 2012 © Sae Yong Kim, 2012 Abstract This study draws from the fields of folktale and fairy tale studies, Korean studies, and translation studies to examine the changes that are made to Korean folktales when they are retold in English, and published in North America in the form of picture books. The objective of the study is to determine whether discernible departures from the traditional, orally transmitted versions are apparent in the retold picture-book versions; to note any common trends in the types of changes which have been made (if any); and to discuss the possible reasons for such changes to be made. The theoretical framework of this study is based in translation studies, and depends on the identification of the folktale reteller as fulfilling the role and facing the same issues as a translator does in transmitting cultural content from the source audience to the target audience. Analysis is conducted via close readings of the primary texts, the retold picture books, and the reference texts, which are comprised of a collection of the traditional Korean folktales which have been retold as picture books in English. After close examination of the motifs present in the traditional and retold picture- book versions of two well-known Korean folktales, it was possible to conclude that one was domesticated, in its omission of all potentially offensive content and addition of a non- traditional happy ending. The other folktale retelling was a largely ―faithful‖ version of the traditional story, but some judicious insertion of information into the text was necessary in order to recreate the experience of a reader of the source culture, due to a (perceived) lack of cultural knowledge of Korean customs on the part of the target reader. ii Table of Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. vi Dedication ............................................................................................................................... vii Chapter One: Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Motivation ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.1.1 The Definition of Fairy Tales and Folktales ..................................................................... 2 1.1.2 The Character and Transfer of Folktales .......................................................................... 4 1.2 Significance.......................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Research Questions .............................................................................................................. 9 1.4 Theoretical Basis .................................................................................................................. 9 1.5 Selection of Primary Texts and Reference Texts ............................................................... 10 1.6 Definition of Terms............................................................................................................ 13 1.6.1 Folktale and Fairy Tale Terms ........................................................................................ 13 1.6.2 Translation Terms ........................................................................................................... 14 1.7 Overview of Following Chapters ....................................................................................... 15 Chapter Two: Literature Review ......................................................................................... 16 2.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................ 16 2.2 Folk and Fairy Tale Studies ............................................................................................... 17 2.3 Korean Studies ................................................................................................................... 20 2.3.1 Limitations ...................................................................................................................... 20 2.3.2 Korean Folktales ............................................................................................................. 21 2.3.3 China-Korea-Japan Interactions and Korean Folktales .................................................. 24 2.3.4 Korean Studies Written in English ................................................................................. 27 2.4 Translation Studies............................................................................................................. 30 iii 2.5 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 33 Chapter Three: Methodology ............................................................................................... 35 3.1 Theoretical Framework ...................................................................................................... 35 3.2 Selection of Reference Texts and Primary Texts ............................................................... 37 3.2.1 The Reference Texts ....................................................................................................... 37 3.2.2 The Primary Texts........................................................................................................... 37 3.3.Method of Analysis ............................................................................................................ 41 Chapter Four: The Sun Girl and the Moon Boy: A Korean Folktale .............................. 44 4.1 About the Folktale.............................................................................................................. 44 4.1.1 Summary of ―Siblings and Tiger‖................................................................................... 45 4.1.2 Tale Type and Motifs ...................................................................................................... 45 4.1.3 Examination of Motifs and Motif Variants in Reference Texts ..................................... 50 4.2 About the Retelling of the Folktale .................................................................................... 57 4.2.1 About the Author-Illustrator ........................................................................................... 57 4.2.2 Analysis of The Sun Girl and the Moon Boy ................................................................. 58 4.2.2.1 Additional Material ...................................................................................................... 59 4.2.2.2 Analysis of Motif Selection and Changes .................................................................... 62 4.3 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 72 Chapter Five: The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon: A Korean Folktale ........................ 74 5.1 About the Folktale.............................................................................................................. 74 5.1.1 Summary of ―Tiger and Dried Persimmon‖ ................................................................... 74 5.1.2 Tale Type and Motifs ...................................................................................................... 75 5.1.3 Examination of Motifs and Motif Variants in Reference Texts ..................................... 77 5.2 About the Retelling of the Folktale .................................................................................... 85 5.2.1 About the Author-Illustrator ........................................................................................... 85 5.2.2 Analysis of The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon ........................................................... 86 5.2.2.1 Additional Material ...................................................................................................... 87 iv 5.2.2.2 Analysis of Motif Selection and Changes .................................................................... 87 5.3 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 92 Chapter Six: Conclusions and Discussion ........................................................................... 95 6.1 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................ 95 6.2 Further Discussion ............................................................................................................. 98 6.3 Limitations of Study .......................................................................................................
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