Traditional Literature - Book Review #1: Daniel San Souci - IN THE MOONLIGHT MIST

1. Bibliography -

San Souci, Daniel, Reteller. 1999. IN THE MOONLIGHT MIST: A KOREAN TALE. Ill. by Eujin Kim Neilan. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mill Press. ISBN-10: 1-56397-754-0 / ISBN-13: 978-1-56397-754-1

2. Plot Summary –

This retold folktale story of an ancient Korean tale is about a woodcutter, who lives with his mother, and longs for a family (wife and children) of his own. One day while in the woods, he spares the life of a deer who grants him a wish of a celestial bride. The woodcutter consults with his mother about this. Unfortunately, the woodcutter forgets to follow the deer’s instructions, as he was to hide her celestial robe until the birth of their second child. He feels sorry that his wife is missing her home after the birth of their first child, and gives her back her robe too early. Both his wife and first-born child float upwards and return to heaven, much to the woodcutter’s dismay.
After the deer re-appeared in the woods before him, he is given another chance for happiness. Unfortunately, events unfold and the woodcutter sacrifices his chances to go to heaven and allows his mother, who has lived a full life, to go in his place. The heavenly king, hearing about the woodcutter’s sacrifice, sends the woodcutter a magical dragon-horse that will bring him to heaven to be reunited with his whole family (wife, child and elderly mother).

3. Critical Analysis –

a. Characters:
The characters in this story are the woodcutter, his mother, the enchanted deer, the woodcutter’s celestial wife and child, the hunters, the beautiful maidens, a talking hare, and the magical flying dragon-horse.

b. Plot:
The woodcutter saves an enchanted deer from some hunters and is rewarded with a wish of a wife and child of his own. But he has a few decisions to make, which he talks about with his elderly mother. One of his toughest decisions, that has to make, is to go up to heaven to be with his wife and child, or to sacrifice his chance to be reunited with his family and let his elderly mother go in his place; as she has lived a full life.

c. Setting:
This story takes place in the forest, around the magical lake, in the moonlight mist, in the woodcutter’s home and garden, and up in the heavenly kingdom above.

d. Theme:
The themes of family importance (respect for one’s elders), character, value, and self-sacrifice are all stressed in this book through the woodcutter’s dilemma, choices and life.

e. Style:
This story begins (formalized opening) with a version of “Once upon a time” in the words, “One spring afternoon” and ends with a “they all lived happily ever after” in the words, “Their joy gave the moon and stars a luster that caused no end to the wonder on the earth below”. The motif of magic and wishes are also evident in the story.

f. Illustrations:
The illustrations were very amazing! The colours and details were rich and reflective of the magical celestial settings. Eujin Kim Neilan tried to capture the essence of the Chosun Dynasty with her illustrations. With the brush strokes in the illustrations, your eyes are drawn to the important images - whether it is highlighting the woodcutter’s celestial’ wife’s heart on one page or the heaven’s above on another.

Others commented on the illustrations: “With a texture reminiscent of scratchboard, the acrylic paintings are beautiful” (Parents’ Choice, 1999). “The path of the brush stroke is fully visible in Neilan’s gray tones, and her models are taken from Korea’s Chosun dynasty” (Booklist, 2009).

g. Cultural Markers:
The cultural markers in this story can be seen both in the illustrations and in the story itself. The characters are dressed in clothing reminiscent of the Chosun Dynasty era and the lifestyle and personal decisions regarding family and choices echo the Korean culture. “Folktales like this one often illustrate culturally-related family dilemmas – in this case, the woodcutter is faced with what he feels he must do for his wife and what he must also do for his aged mother” (Papertigers, 2009).

h. Anthologies:
One anthology for Korean stories is:
** So-un, Kim. 2004. KOREAN CHILDREN’S FAVORITE STORIES. Ill. by Jeong Kyoung-Sim. Boston, MA: Turtle Publishing. ISBN: 0-8048-3591-8

i. Awards & Recognitions:
This story, IN THE MOONLIGHT MIST won the Parents' Choice Award for 1999 - Picture Books.

4. Review Excerpt(s) –

"An evocative tale with a dulcet message." – Booklist

A tender and inspirational retelling of a magical Korean tale of goodness and sacrifice. When a young woodcutter saves a deer from a hunter, the deer offers to grant him a wish. The woodcutter wants a loving wife and family more than anything, but believes he is too poor to marry. The enchanted deer grants him a heavenly maiden of a wife and before long the happy couple is blessed with a child. But soon, homesick and seduced by the heavens, the wife and child return to life among the stars, leaving the poor woodcutter earthbound and alone. The deer takes sympathy on the woodcutter and offers him a passage to the heavens, which he gives instead to his ailing, elderly mother. The gods finally step in, reuniting the selfless man with his entire family in paradise. San Souci's retelling is captivating, but Neilan's vibrant use of line and emotional expressions furnish the enchantment. —Kirkus Reviews

“The acrylic paintings extend the well-told text and add cultural details." - The Horn Book

Daniel San Souci retells one of Korea's most beloved stories in shimmering prose that conjures new magic from this ancient tale. Eujin Kim Neilan, who researched the tale in Korea, sets the story at the time of the Chosun Dynasty. She captures that long-ago world in breathtaking illustrations. Together they have created a storybook treasure. Winner of the Parents Choice Award. – Asia Bookroom

“Neilan’s paintings are wonderfully expressive and amplify the deep emotion of the situation. Her palette of yellows and browns shows people who are swathed in moonlight yet avoids the dimness that night scenes sometimes have.” – School Library Journal

5. Connections –

Teachers can use this book as part of a multicultural theme when learning about different countries (like Korea) or even different customs from different cultures. If you are looking for other books that reflect Korean culture, consider looking at the following books:

** Park, Linda Sue. 2004. THE FIREKEEPER’S SON. Ill. by Julie Downing. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0-618-13337-2

** Uk-Bae, Lee & Yi, Ok-Pae. 1999. SORI’S HARVEST MOON DAY: A STORY OF KOREA. Ill. by Lee Uk-Bae. Norwalk, CT: Soundprints. ISBN-10: 1-568-99687-X / ISBN-13: 978-1568996875

** Stickler, John. 2003. LAND OF MORNING CALM: KOREAN CULTURE THEN AND NOW. Ill. by Soma Han. Walnut Creek, CA: Shen’s Books. ISBN-10: 1-885-00822-8 / ISBN-13: 978-1885008220




References

Papertigers, (2009). Papertigers blog, retrieved on September 25, 2009, from http://www.papertigers.org/wordpress/books-at-bedtime-in-the-moonlight-mist/

Parents’ Choice Foundation, (1999). Children’s media and toy reviews, retrieved on September 23, 2009, from http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=185&award=xx&from=Boyds%20Mills%20Press