KJCKorea
Journal Central

<Gewusa> is not a Pansori song version but a novel version. Pansori‐based novels are reading materials transcribed or printed to be read, and include all alternative versions. The title <Gewusa> is also a clue to the fact that the novel originated from <Musuki Taryeong>. The weakening of the function of inserted poetry, which is one of important characteristics of Pansori, suggests that the work was transformed into a novel. Inserted poetry is for drawing the audience’s sympathy in the field of performance. Thus, it is considered a natural phenomenon that inserted poetry, which is not so important in a novel version, was omitted or replaced with narrations. With regard to narration techniques as well, the dialogue part of <Gewusa> maintains many of the characteristics of its song version, 판소리 문학사에 있어서 <게우사>의 위상 193 but the other parts are closer to a novel than to the song version. Assuming that <Gewusa> was transcribed in 1890, we can infer that it was rewritten and its transcribed version was distributed in the trend of transition of Pansori narrations into novels. With regard to its relation with song <Gewusa>, the relation was inferred from hypothesizing transformation not from a song to Pansori or Pansori‐style novel as in the commonly held opinion but in the opposite direction. However, this part is considered to require further discussion.

<Gewusa>, Pansori, song version, novel version, transcribed version, inserted poetry