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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of five sections. They are background of the study, problem formulation, objectives of the study, benefits of the study, and definition
of terms. Background of the study describes the background knowledge of the study. It explains the reason why the novel is chosen as the subject of the study.
Problem formulation presents the questions of problem in the study. Objectives of the study describe the purposes of the study based on the problem formulation.
Benefits of the study contain the benefits of the study for readers, students, and teachers. Definition of terms explains the definitions of important terms used in
the study to make better understanding.
A. Background of the Study
Dealing with literature, literary works consist of four literary genres. They are short story, novel, poetry, and play. In this study, the writer chooses to analyze
a novel because it represents the world where we live in. According to Laar and Schoonderwood 1957, “Novel is work of art in so far as it introduces us into a
living world; in some respects resembling the world we live in” p.163. A novel can bring the readers to a certain situation or a certain conflict
which represents social realities. According to Wallek and Warren 1956, “Literary works can play its role as documents that record social realities which
are artistically portrayed by the author p.102. In this study, the writer analyzes a
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2 novel entitled Dragon House. This novel is a product of the reflection of social
realities in Vietnam. The author, John Shors, reflects one of the social realities in Vietnam, the reality of Vietnamese street children.
Wallek and Warren 1956 state, “Since every writer is a member of society, he can be studied as social being” p.96. A novel thus is related to social
being. The readers can find a novel which represents a social issue in a society. Shors wants to deliver his deep understanding about the social issue through his
novel. He can be considered as a critical person since he is aware of the problems which happen around him. He can deliver messages about his thoughts, opinions,
and suggestions about the problems through his novel. Dragon House is a novel which expresses a social issue in a society since
it reflects author’s concern of the social issue through his novel. He underlines the problem of street children as one of serious problems faced by Vietnamese. Hong
and Ohno 2005 state, “The problem of street children is one of the most pressing social problems in Vietnam in general and in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
HCMC in particular” p.3. The problem of street children is interesting to be analyzed because it is a phenomenon faced by Vietnamese.
Dragon House tells the tale of Vietnamese street children. It has many characters which represent the Vietnamese street children. Each character has
different stories. The novel gives illustrations about how the street children’s life is. It also portrays the causes why they are on the street.
Additionally, the stories contain valuable lessons of life. The characters of Vietnamese street children in the novel have strong motivation and hope. They do
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3 not commit crimes, even though they have opportunities. They earn money from
their own effort. Shors shows that Vietnamese street children are different from other street children. This point makes the novel interesting.
In this study, the writer limits the point. The writer focuses on Vietnamese street children’s life. This study discusses the portrayal of Vietnamese street
children as seen in John Shors’s Dragon House. It also discusses the relation between child poverty and the existence of Vietnamese street children.
B. Problem Formulation
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