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@article{ART002996450},
author={Cho, Eunjoo},
title={A Study on the Possibility of Epic Imagination on Kim Eok’s “A Sleepless Night (지새는밤)” (1930)},
journal={Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University},
issn={1598-3021},
year={2023},
volume={80},
number={3},
pages={293-324},
doi={10.17326/jhsnu.80.3.202308.293}

TY - JOUR
AU - Cho, Eunjoo
TI - A Study on the Possibility of Epic Imagination on Kim Eok’s “A Sleepless Night (지새는밤)” (1930)
JO - Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University
PY - 2023
VL - 80
IS - 3
PB - Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University
SP - 293
EP - 324
SN - 1598-3021
AB - This paper examines Kim Eok’s “A Sleepless Night” as a Korean modern epic poem that encompasses themes of contemporaneity, communal destiny, and introspective reflections. It provides a detailed analysis of the poem’s content and semantics, shedding light on its specific aspects. “A Sleepless Night” was serialized in Donga Ilbo from December 9 to 29, 1930, under the subtitle of ‘lyrical epic poem’. The narrative revolves around themes of love, separation, wandering, hardships, and eventual reunion. Notably, the poem extensively explores the themes of ‘downfall’ and ‘wandering’ experienced by two families. The collapse of Sapo village serves as an allegory for the demise of rural areas due to the Land Survey Project and the overall situation in Joseon. The resulting ‘consciousness of loss of hometown’ triggers reflections on absence and loss. Myeong-soon’s family relocates to Manchuria with dreams of a prosperous life but faces continuous poverty and death of his parents, fading their expectations. Similarly, Young-ae experiences the disappearance of her younger brother, her father’s death, and subsequent struggles as gisaeng (korean geisha) after failed marriage. Myeong-soon symbolizes the life of a farmer in 1920s and 1930s Joseon, while Young-ae represents the life of a woman in a marginalized position due to colonialism and capitalism. These characters, as communal subjects, embody thoughts on the national destiny of Joseon during the Period of Japanese Occupation. Particularly, the experiences in Manchuria serve as a pivotal element of epic imagination, propelling contemplation on communal destiny in other modern poems.
KW - Kim Eok;“A Sleepless Night”;Epic Imagination;Sense of Loss of Hometown;Wandering;Manchuria
DO - 10.17326/jhsnu.80.3.202308.293
ER -

Cho, Eunjoo. (2023). A Study on the Possibility of Epic Imagination on Kim Eok’s “A Sleepless Night (지새는밤)” (1930). Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 80(3), 293-324.

Cho, Eunjoo. 2023, "A Study on the Possibility of Epic Imagination on Kim Eok’s “A Sleepless Night (지새는밤)” (1930)", Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, vol.80, no.3 pp.293-324. Available from: doi:10.17326/jhsnu.80.3.202308.293

Cho, Eunjoo "A Study on the Possibility of Epic Imagination on Kim Eok’s “A Sleepless Night (지새는밤)” (1930)" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 80.3 pp.293-324 (2023) : 293.

Cho, Eunjoo. A Study on the Possibility of Epic Imagination on Kim Eok’s “A Sleepless Night (지새는밤)” (1930). 2023; 80(3), 293-324. Available from: doi:10.17326/jhsnu.80.3.202308.293

Cho, Eunjoo. "A Study on the Possibility of Epic Imagination on Kim Eok’s “A Sleepless Night (지새는밤)” (1930)" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 80, no.3 (2023) : 293-324.doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.80.3.202308.293

Cho, Eunjoo. A Study on the Possibility of Epic Imagination on Kim Eok’s “A Sleepless Night (지새는밤)” (1930). Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 80(3), 293-324. doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.80.3.202308.293

Cho, Eunjoo. A Study on the Possibility of Epic Imagination on Kim Eok’s “A Sleepless Night (지새는밤)” (1930). Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University. 2023; 80(3) 293-324. doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.80.3.202308.293

Cho, Eunjoo. A Study on the Possibility of Epic Imagination on Kim Eok’s “A Sleepless Night (지새는밤)” (1930). 2023; 80(3), 293-324. Available from: doi:10.17326/jhsnu.80.3.202308.293

Cho, Eunjoo. "A Study on the Possibility of Epic Imagination on Kim Eok’s “A Sleepless Night (지새는밤)” (1930)" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 80, no.3 (2023) : 293-324.doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.80.3.202308.293