<진성운전>의 서사구조에 나타난 특징적 양상과 소설사적 의미

Abstract

“Jin Seong-unjeon (진성운전)” is a Korean traditional novel that embodies hero ‘Jin Seong-un (진성운)’ and other 3 heroes as his friends of same mind, i.e. Nam Sun-gyeong, Yun Ho-won and Yi Hak-rok. On the other hand, this novel embodies only one antagonist - Yu Gyeong, a villainous retainer - against these heroes. And as the heroes get over hardships and terminate a showdown against Yu Gyeong, this novel highlights a hidden hero named ‘Gundam’ who rescues his emperor from the risk of death. Such a narrative structure of Jinseong-unjeon is closely associated with existing novels. Like Jin Seong-unjeon, the embodiment of multiple heroes can be also similarly found in “Namjeong Palnangi (남정팔난기)” and “Gwakbunyangjeon (곽분양전).” Single antagonist is a type of character embodiment found in early fiction works such as “Choi Hyunjeon (최현전)” and “Hwang Unjeon (황운전).” Stories about rescue of emperor belong to a category of typical war story, which can be found in heroic novels such as “Sodaeseongjeon (소대성전)”, “Hyeonsu- munjeon (현수문전)” and “Jo-ungjeon (조웅전)”, and in feature-length stories including “Ongnumong (옥루몽).” In addition to these aspects, Jinseong-unjeon reveals interactions with other novels, including heroine's affiliation in male attire (Changseon Gameuirok) and war story's extension (based on Jeokbyeok Daejeon). As a result, this feature of interactions with other stories demon- strates late tendencies of heroic stories focusing on fictional interests of a work. Hence, it is concluded that Jinseong-unjeon has an implication in the history of Korean traditional novels in that it shows a transition of late heroic novels toward new and creative stories by organically weaving with characteristic aspects of previous heroic novels.