This research intends to study positive and negative images of the old by analyzing descriptions of them in fairy tales. 20 fairy tales with an old man as a protagonist in it were selected after a randon selection of 100 fairy tales with an old man an...
This research intends to study positive and negative images of the old by analyzing descriptions of them in fairy tales. 20 fairy tales with an old man as a protagonist in it were selected after a randon selection of 100 fairy tales with an old man and discussion with three kindergarten teachers. Among the 20 fairy tales, 13 fairy tales(A Man with A Wen, A Red Hat, A Glass Bead from The Heaven, The Youth Fountain, Pat-juk Grandmother, Dog of Flanders, Fox Towel, An Old Screw, A Gourd, Hoihoi Jam Grandmother) were finally chosen to be analyzed based on the survey on fairy tales frequently used in kindergartens in Chungnam area. The general image of the aged on fairy tales was analyzed by examining the 13 fairy tales, then detailed image of individual characters in each fairy tale was examined based on 'Attitudes Toward Different Age Groups' Jungran Han(2004).
First, there was polarization of the image of the aged between good and evil. Although most of the old men had a good image, they lacked courage, relied on chance, and were dependent. Hence, there was not any old man with a very positive image.
Secondly, most of the old men in the fairy tales had a neural image rather than a positive image. However, bad characters had a dramatic difference in the description of positive sides of good characters and negative sides of them. Therefore, there was enough elements to make the not-elderly have prejudices and distortion of the elderly.
Thirdly, an analysis of attitudes of different age groups toward the aged indicated that the aged have a positive image when the description of them in the fairy tales has active social activities and good social usefulness.
Fourthly, An Old Screw had very unrealistic prejudices on the elderly although it had an interesting story. Most of the studied fairy tales had distortions of the elderly while describing their wisdom.
Lastly, there were more neural images of the elderly in the fairy tales as other previous research results on the attitudes toward them. The negative attitudes toward the elderly with a distorted, prejudicial view which arises when there is no experience with the elderly or contact with them was similar as in the results of the previous researches.
A thesis submitted to Committee of the Graduate School of Hanseo University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in February, 2006