한국 현대 노년소설의 변화 양상 연구－ 노년 담론의 성장과 작가 의식의 성숙을 중심으로 －

This paper is to review the aspects of change in modern Korean old age novels, started actively from 1970s, in terms of the progress of old age discourse and the matureness of authors’ consciousness. In 1970s, old age novels mainly described old age images, being rejected and left alone at home due to the collapse of traditional intrinsic familial value with industrialization and nuclear family. And novels raised the elderly problems must be solved by nation and society. In 1980s, old age images were figured as still being peripheral in spite of the elevation of social attention to old age welfare. And later the novels appeared with old age characters trying to live their lives subjectively, or showed the understanding and awareness of old age with the discovery of positive mind in old ugliness body In 1990s, with the currency focused on the individual and daily life, novels appeared, describing old ages trying to find meaningful and real life out of fantasies. After 2000s, many novels come to show the insight of ‘brink’ with the progress of old age discourse and the advent of old age authors. These works asked what the human being is, and what the valuable life is. They presentcourageous choice, emotional independence, understanding and recipience of others, and humors as answers. Korean modern old age novels, from starting as an accuser of alienation of the elderly in 1970s to the present, have grown up to the works with insight into human life through raising elderly problems, understanding and awareness on the old age.