Thematic
Analysis
Key
Takeaways
Grammatical
Analysis of the Poem
Introduction
to the Poet
✒️ 김영랑 “돌담에 속삭이는 햇발”
돌담에 속삭이는 햇발같이
풀 아래 웃음 짓는 샘물같이
내 마음 고요히 고운 봄 길 위에
오늘 하루 하늘을 우러르고 싶다
새악시 볼에 떠오르는 부끄럼같이
시의 가슴 살포시 젖는 물결같이
보드레한 에메랄드 얇게 흐르는
실비단 하늘을 바라보고 싶다
"Sunlight
Whispering on the Stone Wall" is one of Kim Yeong-nang’s most
renowned lyrical poems, published in 1930. The poem delicately portrays a
spring day’s warm sunlight, blooming flowers, and the serene landscape of the
poet’s inner world. This work harmonizes nature and human emotion, celebrating everyday
life's humble happiness and pure beauty. Though brief, the poem leaves a
lasting impression, offering readers a quiet and heartfelt resonance.
🎙️ Recitation
✒️ Thematic Analysis
Kim
Yeong-nang’s “Sunlight Whispering on the Stone Wall” captures the speaker’s
longing for a bright and innocent world through lyrical and sensory language,
making it a quintessential example of pure Korean lyric poetry. The poem
awakens the reader’s visual and auditory senses with its delicate and vivid
imagery.
As
the speaker gazes at the spring sky, they yearn for a pure and peaceful realm.
Here, the “sky” symbolizes more than just a physical space—it evokes an ideal
world free from constraint and noise. This reflects the poet’s quiet desire to
rise above daily struggles and find calm through introspection.
What
sets this work apart is Kim Yeong-nang’s masterful use of the Korean language
to enhance the poem’s purity and elegance. The soft consonants and the steady
three-beat rhythm create a musical flow that pleases the ear while deepening
the emotional resonance. The poem’s gentle, almost feminine tone softly conveys
the speaker’s quiet wish, wrapping readers in the tender atmosphere of a warm
spring day.
- Stanza 1
“돌담에 속삭이는
햇발같이 / 풀
아래
웃음
짓는
샘물같이 / 내
마음
고요히
고운
봄
길
위에 / 오늘
하루
하늘을
우러르고
싶다”
“Like
sunlight whispering against a stone wall / Like spring water smiling beneath
the grass / I want to quietly look up at the sky today / Along this gentle
spring path with a calm heart.”
→
The natural images of “햇발 (sunlight)” and “샘물 (spring water)” represent the poet’s
longing for a serene and untainted world. The sunlight is gently personified,
radiating life and warmth, while the spring water evokes clarity and purity,
suggesting the poet’s inner desire for peace and innocence.
- Stanza 2
“새악시 볼에 떠오르는
부끄럼같이 / 시의
가슴
살포시
젖는
물결같이 / 보드레한
에메랄드
얇게
흐르는 / 실비단
하늘을
바라보고
싶다”
“Like
the blush rising on a young bride’s cheek / Like a soft wave soaking into the
heart of a poem / I want to gaze at the sky of thin flowing silk / That drifts
in tender emerald hues.”
→
The “에메랄드 (emerald)” color reflects the purity and delicacy the poet
envisions, painting the spring sky with a soft, translucent glow. The repeated
use of “~고
싶다 (I want to)” deepens the speaker’s yearning, underscoring a
gentle but earnest desire for beauty and emotional stillness.
🎯 Key Takeaways
1. 돌담에
"돌담" means "stone wall," and the particle "에" indicates location or direction. Together, it means "on
the stone wall" or "toward the stone wall".
📌
Example Usage
"돌담에
기대어 앉았다."
"I
sat leaning against the stone wall."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
담벼락에 –
Another way to say "against the wall," slightly more colloquial.
📌
Example Usage
"담벼락에
등을 기대고 하늘을 올려다봤다."
"I
leaned against the wall and looked up at the sky."
2. 속삭이는 / 속삭이다
"속삭이다" means "to whisper." "속삭이는" is the present participle form modifying a noun, meaning
"whispering."
📌
Example Usage
"아이들이
속삭이며 이야기했다."
"The
children spoke in whispers."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
작은 소리로 말하다 – To speak in a low voice.
📌
Example Usage
"그는
다른 사람들을 깨우지 않으려고 작은 소리로 말했다."
"He
spoke in a low voice so as not to wake others."
3. 햇발같이
"햇발" refers to "sunbeam" or "ray of sunshine."
The suffix "같이" means "like" or
"as if," so the phrase means "like a sunbeam."
📌
Example Usage
"그녀의
미소는 햇발같이 따뜻했다."
"Her
smile was as warm as a sunbeam."
🌀
Similar Expressions
햇살처럼 –
Like sunshine.
📌
Example Usage
"햇살처럼
밝은 얼굴을 하고 있었다."
"She
had a face as bright as sunlight."
4. 풀 아래
"풀" means "grass," and "아래"
means "below" or "under," so "풀 아래" means "under the grass."
📌
Example Usage
"풀
아래 숨어 있는 곤충을 찾았다."
"I
found an insect hiding under the grass."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
잔디 밑에 –
Under the lawn.
📌
Example Usage
"잔디
밑에 숨은 공을 찾았다."
"I
found the ball hidden under the lawn."
5. 웃음짓는 / 웃음짓다
"웃음짓다" means "to smile." "웃음짓는" is the modifier form meaning "smiling."
📌
Example Usage
"그녀는
부드럽게 웃음짓는 얼굴을 하고 있었다."
"She
had a softly smiling face."
🌀
Similar Expressions
미소를 짓다 –
To give a smile.
📌
Example Usage
"그는
조용히 미소를 지었다."
"He
quietly smiled."
6. 샘물같이
"샘물" means "spring water," and "같이" means "like." So this phrase means "like
spring water."
📌
Example Usage
"그의
마음은 샘물같이 맑았다."
"His
heart was as clear as spring water."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
맑은 물처럼 –
Like clear water.
📌
Example Usage
"그녀의
목소리는 맑은 물처럼 깨끗했다."
"Her
voice was as pure as clear water."
7. 마음
"마음" refers to one's heart, feelings, or mind. It represents
internal emotion or thought.
📌
Example Usage
"그의
마음은 따뜻하고 부드러웠다."
"His
heart was warm and gentle."
🌀
Similar Expressions
가슴 –
Often used to represent deep feelings or emotions.
📌
Example Usage
"가슴
깊이 슬픔이 밀려왔다."
"A
deep sorrow surged through my chest."
8. 고요히
"고요히" is an adverb meaning "quietly" or
"serenely."
📌
Example Usage
"고요히
흐르는 강을 바라보았다."
"I
gazed at the quietly flowing river."
🌀
Similar Expressions
조용히 –
Quietly, without sound.
📌
Example Usage
"조용히
문을 열고 나갔다."
"He
quietly opened the door and left."
9. 고운 / 곱다
"고운" is the adjective form of "곱다,"
meaning "beautiful," "lovely," or "fine."
📌
Example Usage
"고운
옷을 입고 나왔다."
"She
came out wearing a beautiful dress."
🌀
Similar Expressions
아름다운 –
Beautiful, elegant.
📌
Example Usage
"아름다운
풍경이 펼쳐졌다."
"A
beautiful view unfolded."
10. 봄 길
"봄" means "spring," and "길"
means "path" or "road," so together, they mean "a
spring path."
📌
Example Usage
"봄
길을 따라 산책을 했다."
"I
took a walk along the spring path."
🌀
Similar Expressions
11. 위에
"위" means "above" or "on top," and the
particle "에" indicates location, so "위에" means "on" or "above."
📌
Example Usage
"책상
위에 책이 놓여 있다."
"There’s
a book placed on the desk."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
~에
놓이다 – To be placed on (something).
📌
Example Usage
"접시
위에 음식이 정갈하게 놓였다."
"Food
was neatly placed on the plate."
12. 오늘 하루
"오늘" means "today," and "하루"
means "one day," so this expression emphasizes the entirety of today.
📌
Example Usage
"오늘
하루 정말 바빴다."
"Today
was hectic."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
하루 종일 –
All day long.
📌
Example Usage
"하루
종일 비가 내렸다."
"It
rained all day."
13. 하늘
"하늘" means "sky" and often symbolizes freedom, hope, or
transcendence in Korean literature.
📌
Example Usage
"푸른
하늘이 펼쳐져 있었다."
"A
blue sky stretched out overhead."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
창공 –
Literary expression for “sky” or “open sky.”
📌
Example Usage
"창공을
나는 새처럼 자유롭고 싶다."
"I
want to be free like a bird flying through the open sky."
14. 우러르고 / 우러르다
"우러르다" means "to look up at (with respect or awe)." "우러르고" is the connective form.
📌
Example Usage
"아이들이
선생님을 우러러본다."
"The
children look up to the teacher with respect."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
존경하다 –
To respect.
📌
Example Usage
"그는
평생 아버지를 존경했다."
"He
respected his father all his life."
15. ~하고 싶다
A typical
pattern meaning "want to do ~." "~고 싶다"
attaches to verb stems.
📌
Example Usage
"하늘을
우러러보고 싶다."
"I
want to look up at the sky."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
~고
바라다 – To hope to do ~.
📌
Example Usage
"편안한
삶을 살고 바라요."
"I
hope to live a peaceful life."
16. 새악시 / 새색시
"새색시" is a traditional term meaning "a newlywed woman" or
"bride." "새악시" is a dialectal
variation.
📌
Example Usage
"새색시처럼
부끄러워하며 웃었다."
"She
smiled shyly like a newlywed bride."
🌀
Similar Expressions
신부 –
Bride (more formal and modern).
📌
Example Usage
"결혼식장에서
신부가 아름답게 등장했다."
"The
bride appeared beautifully at the wedding."
17. 볼
"볼" means "cheek." Often used in poetic or affectionate
expressions.
📌
Example Usage
"그녀의
볼은 장밋빛이었다."
"Her
cheeks were rosy."
🌀
Similar Expressions
뺨 –
Another word for "cheek," slightly more anatomical.
📌
Example Usage
"차가운
바람에 뺨이 빨개졌다."
"My
cheeks turned red from the cold wind."
18. 떠오르는 / 떠오르다
"떠오르다" means "to rise" or "to come to mind."
"떠오르는" is the modifier form.
📌
Example Usage
"해가
수평선 위로 떠오르고 있었다."
"The
sun was rising above the horizon."
🌀
Similar Expressions
생각나다 –
To come to mind.
📌
Example Usage
"문득
그녀의 얼굴이 생각났다."
"Her
face suddenly came to mind."
19. 부끄럼같이
"부끄럼" means "shyness" or "embarrassment," and
"같이" means "like."
📌
Example Usage
"부끄럼같이
얼굴이 붉어졌다."
"My
face turned red with embarrassment."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
수줍게 –
Shyly.
📌
Example Usage
"그녀는
수줍게 고개를 숙였다."
"She
lowered her head shyly."
20. 시
"시" means "poem." It refers to poetic composition in
literature.
📌
Example Usage
"그는
아름다운 시를 많이 썼다."
"He
wrote many beautiful poems."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
시가 –
Formal word for "poetry."
📌
Example Usage
"한국
시가의 정수를 보여주는 작품이다."
"It
is a work that shows the essence of Korean poetry."
21. 가슴
"가슴" literally means "chest" but is often used
metaphorically to refer to deep emotion.
📌
Example Usage
"가슴이
뭉클해졌다."
"My
heart was touched."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
마음속 –
Inside the heart/mind.
📌
Example Usage
"마음속
깊은 곳에 간직했다."
"I
kept it deep inside my heart."
22. 살포시 젖는 / 살포시 젖다
"살포시" means "gently," and "젖다" means "to get wet." Together: “gently becoming
wet.”
📌
Example Usage
"이슬에
살포시 젖은 꽃잎이 아름다웠다."
"The
flower petals gently wet with dew were beautiful."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
부드럽게 스며들다 – To softly seep in.
📌
Example Usage
"감정이
부드럽게 스며들었다."
"The
emotion seeped in gently."
23. 물결같이
"물결" means "waves," and "같이"
means "like waves. " Thus, the phrase means 'like waves."
📌
Example Usage
"그의
말은 물결같이 감정을 흔들었다."
"His
words moved my emotions like waves."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
파도처럼 –
Like the tide.
📌
Example Usage
"파도처럼
밀려오는 그리움."
"A
longing that washes over me like the tide."
24. 보드레한 / 보드레하다
"보드레하다" means "soft" or "tender." "보드레한" is the adjective form.
📌
Example Usage
"보드레한
이불이 따뜻했다."
"The
soft blanket was warm."
🌀
Similar Expressions
부드러운 –
Soft, smooth.
📌
Example Usage
"부드러운
손길에 위로받았다."
"I
was comforted by the gentle touch."
25. 에머랄드
"에머랄드" refers to "emerald," a green gemstone, often used
to describe color.
📌
Example Usage
"에머랄드
빛 바다가 펼쳐졌다."
"An
emerald-colored sea stretched out before us."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
옥빛 –
Jade-colored.
📌
Example Usage
"옥빛
강물이 햇살에 반짝였다."
"The
jade-colored river sparkled in the sunlight."
26. 얇게 / 얇다
"얇다" means "thin." "얇게"
is the adverbial form, meaning "thinly" or "delicately."
📌
Example Usage
"빵을
얇게 썰어 주세요."
"Please
slice the bread thinly."
🌀
Similar Expressions
가늘게 –
Thinly or narrowly (more for lines or threads).
📌
Example Usage
"머리를
가늘게 땋았다."
"She
braided her hair in thin strands."
27. 흐르는 / 흐르다
"흐르다" means "to flow." "흐르는"
is the present participle form.
📌
Example Usage
"강물이
잔잔히 흐르고 있었다."
"The
river was flowing calmly."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
넘실거리다 –
To wave or undulate (often used for water).
📌
Example Usage
"바다가
넘실거렸다."
"The
sea was rolling gently."
28. 실비단
"실비단" literally means “silk-like stream” or “silken water,” used
metaphorically in poetry.
📌
Example Usage
"실비단
같은 강이 봄빛에 반짝였다."
"The
silken river sparkled under the spring light."
29. 바라보고 / 바라보다
"바라보다" means "to look at" or "to gaze at."
"바라보고" is the connective form.
📌
Example Usage
"하늘을
바라보고 소원을 빌었다."
"I
looked up at the sky and made a wish."
🌀
Similar Expressions
응시하다 –
To stare or gaze intently.
📌
Example Usage
"그는
아무 말 없이 나를 응시했다."
"He
stared at me without saying a word."
✒️ Grammatical Analysis of the Poem
돌담에 속삭이는 햇발같이
- "돌담에": "돌담 (stone wall)" +
locative particle "-에" → ‘on the stone wall’
- "속삭이는": "속삭이다 (to whisper)" +
present attributive "-는" → ‘whispering’
- “햇발같이”: “햇발 (sunbeam, sunlight)” + comparative
particle “-같이” → ‘like sunlight’
→ ‘Like
sunlight whispering on a stone wall’
📝 Meaning
A soft
image symbolizing warmth and tranquility, where sunlight becomes personified as
something that whispers gently, conveying a peaceful world the speaker longs
for.
풀 아래 웃음 짓는 샘물같이
- "풀
아래": "풀 (grass)" +
"아래 (underneath)" → ‘under the grass’
- "웃음
짓는": "웃다 (to smile)" +
causative form "-음 짓다" → ‘smiling’
• “웃다” → noun form “웃음”
• “짓다” + adnominal
form “-는” → “짓는”
- "샘물같이": "샘물 (spring water)" +
comparative particle "-같이" → ‘like spring
water’
→ ‘Like
spring water smiling beneath the grass’
📝 Meaning
This is
a vivid and pure image that evokes natural serenity. The smiling spring water
represents joy quietly in the world, reflecting the speaker’s gentle emotional
state.
내 마음 고요히 고운 봄 길 위에
- "내
마음": "내 (my)" + "마음 (heart)" → ‘my heart’
• “나의” → “내” (contraction)
- "고요히": adverb form of "고요하다 (to be
still, calm)" → ‘calmly’
- "고운": "곱다 (to be beautiful,
tender)" + attributive "-은" →
‘beautiful’ or ‘tender’
- “봄
길 위에”: “봄 (spring)” + “길 (road)” + locative particle “-위에” (on) →
‘on the spring road’
→ ‘My
heart calmly on the tender spring road’
📝 Meaning
The
speaker places their calm and gentle heart on the path of spring, illustrating
a longing to live each day peacefully and with grace.
오늘 하루 하늘을 우러르고 싶다
- "오늘
하루": "오늘 (today)" +
"하루 (day)" → ‘today, just for one day’
- "하늘을": "하늘 (sky)" + object
particle "-을" → ‘the sky’
- “우러르고
싶다”: “우러르다 (to look up to)” + “-고
싶다 (want to)” → ‘want to look up to’
→ ‘I
want to look up to the sky for just today’
📝 Meaning
A simple
wish to look up at the sky with reverence, symbolizing a desire to connect with
purity or something greater, even if only for one day.
새악시 볼에 떠오르는 부끄럼같이
- "새악시": archaic word for a young bride
- "볼에": "볼 (cheek)" + locative
particle "-에" → ‘on the cheek’
- "떠오르는": "떠오르다 (to rise, to
appear)" + present attributive "-는" →
‘rising, appearing’
- “부끄럼같이”: “부끄럼 (shyness, blush)” + comparative “-같이” → ‘like a blush’
→ ‘Like
a blush rising on a young bride’s cheek’
📝 Meaning
Evokes a
delicate emotional moment of innocence and modesty, comparing the emotion to a
subtle blush of a new bride, highlighting purity and tender sensitivity.
시의 가슴 살포시 젖는 물결같이
- "시의": "시 (poem)" + possessive
particle "-의" → ‘of the poem’
- "가슴": "가슴 (chest, heart)" →
metaphorically referring to emotion or soul
- "살포시": gently, softly
- "젖는": "젖다 (to get wet)" +
attributive "-는" → ‘soaked, wetting’
- “물결같이”: “물결 (wave, ripple)” + comparative “-같이” → ‘like a ripple’
→ ‘Like
ripples gently soaking the heart of the poem’
📝 Meaning
Describes
how emotion slowly permeates the poem, like water softly soaking through, suggesting how poetry absorbs and reflects emotion.
보드레한 에메랄드 얇게 흐르는
- "보드레한": "보드랍다 (to be soft)" →
soft, gentle (dialect or poetic form)
- "에메랄드": emerald (color or stone)
- "얇게
흐르는": "얇다 (to be thin)"
+ adverb "-게" + "흐르다 (to flow)" + present attributive "-는"
→
‘thinly flowing emerald’
→ ‘A
soft emerald gently flowing in thin strands’
📝 Meaning
A
luxurious visual that conveys gentleness and beauty through color and motion,
suggesting the graceful unfolding of emotion or time like a delicate stream of
green light.
실비단 하늘을 바라보고 싶다
- "실비단": "실 (thread)" + "비단 (silk)" → ‘silken thread’ or ‘silk-like’
- "하늘을": "하늘 (sky)" + object
particle "-을" → ‘the sky’
- "바라보고
싶다": "바라보다 (to gaze
at)" + "-고 싶다" → ‘want to gaze at’
→ ‘I
want to gaze at the silken-thread sky’
📝 Meaning
Expresses
a desire to quietly admire a sky as delicate and intricate as silk, portraying
the speaker’s longing for a moment of peace and beauty suspended in time.
✒️ Introduction to the Poet
Kim
Yeong-nang (1903–1950) was a representative lyrical poet from Gangjin,
Jeollanam-do. His real name was Kim Yun-sik (김윤식),
and he wrote under the pen name Yeongnang (영랑).
In
1931, he began his literary career as a founding member of the literary
magazine Si-Munhak (Poetic Literature), alongside Park Yong-cheol and
Jeong Ji-yong. Kim Yeong-nang is widely recognized as a master of pure
lyricism, known for his delicate and transparent depictions of nature and inner
emotion.
His
most well-known poems include:
- Before the Peony Blooms (모란이 피기까지는)
- Sunlight Whispering on the Stone
Wall (돌담에
속삭이는
햇발)
- To the One Who Will Understand My
Heart (내
마음을
아실
이)
- Spring Heart in a Field of Dreams (꿈 밭에 봄 마음)
- Shining Heart on a Camellia Leaf (동백잎에 빛나는 마음)
Kim
Yeong-nang’s poetry is marked by masterful use of the Korean language,
folksong-like rhythm, and refined emotional expression. His work continues to
be cherished today, and he is celebrated as a poet who exemplifies the
tradition of Korean lyrical verse.
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