The main purpose of literature education is not to provide information on the literary work
but to teach students to become active readers who can read the meaning of text, understand
human beings and the world for themselves. However, in the educational environment, it is
very common that even the themes of literary works, which are expected to be discovered by
students themselves, are presented by teachers. Thus, readers cannot analyze the topics by
themselves.
The purpose of this article is to investigate the possibility of using ‘focalization’ in thematic
education of literature.
Narrative situation is, which means that it is part of the analysis that examines how a
narrative is told. ‘Point of view' and ‘Focalization' present the components that make up the
narrative. ‘Point of view’ is related to the ‘speaking’, and ‘Foclaization’ is related to the ‘seeing’.
Focalization describes the relations between the elements presented and the vision through
which they are represented. Because what is said and what has been seen, are not always
correspond.
Choi, In-ho’s “A Stranger's Room” depicts human alienation and the loss of identity in the
70s’ economic growth. For example, without quotation marks. Voice and recognition are
separated. The character does not realize his voice as his own. His room is his own room and
‘A Stranger's Room’ at the same time. Human alienation and loss of identity can be learned
through the text.
Roland Barthes said it is “self-teaching literature as literature”. At the same time, however,
education that nurtures adequate and valid analysis is necessary. Through the education of the
analysis readers can become more participating. That is the true meaning of literary education.