The purpose of this study was to analyze the growth process of main characters in contemporary initiation novels step by step according to the patterns of growth motives extracted from the contemporary initiation novels. In order to set criteria for a...
The purpose of this study was to analyze the growth process of main characters in contemporary initiation novels step by step according to the patterns of growth motives extracted from the contemporary initiation novels. In order to set criteria for analyzing the contents of initiation novels, we categorized the patterns of growth motives. In addition, we examined individual books describing the maturing process of immature main characters in long stories selected from Korean creative initiation novels published since 2000.
Growth motives were categorized into five patterns <confusion of family identity>, <awakening to sex>, <sense of inferiority>, <experience in violence>, and <setting out on a journey>, and 10 books were used as criteria for analysis. The books are common in that the main characters are adolescents at the growth stage, and they also help the growth of their surrounding people and the readers. In this sense, initiation novels are found highly valuable as reading materials for adolescents.
What are most remarkable among several characteristics of contemporary initiation novels are the reflection of various types of family and the main characters active response to established order. In addition, they suggest adolescents worries about their future course. In addition, initiation novels emphasize helpers role in establishing the establishment of adolescents new world view. Thus, this study closely analyzed changes in the main characters of contemporary initiation novels according to whether to have helpers and the importance of the helpers roles. By analyzing and summarizing these contents, we presented the concepts and characteristics of initiation novels.