Abstract

This thesis is about the function of war motif in Kososeol, and the aspects and meaning of the representation of female hero. In the late period of Chosun-Dynasty, (after the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592 and the Manchu Invasion of 1636) war motif popularized in Kososeol, In Kososeol, war motif shows a tendency to Formalize, but it contribute to the formation of the theme in various ways, In female heroic novel, war motif function as an opportunity to advance to public area when a heroin begin to go out into the world. The representation of female hero is an extraordinary image of woman in korean narrative tradition, A heroine in the female heroic novel, disguise as a man, conduct war, and occupy a high social position. Sometimes, the image of female hero regarded as very unreal, fantastic image for it's powerful, heroic imagery. But physical and spiritual power is the quality belong to male and female. As a matter of fact, women are and have been heroic, but the androcentric culture has often been overlooking female heroism. Therefore the image of female hero suggest many things about femininity. This kind of female hero shows the hidden abilities of woman and social consciousness about femininity. And the image of female hero reveals self-consciousness of woman and criticize the androcentric society, Therefore the image of female hero reflect the ideal and the real of woman simultaneously. Especially, the aspects of the representation of female hero shows pre-modern conception of female identity.