A study of the thematic significance of magic marble as the main symbol in Minfong Ho`s The Clay Marble.
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A STUDY OF THE THEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF MAGIC
MARBLE AS THE MAIN SYMBOL IN MINFONG HO’S
THE CLAY MARBLE
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ULIA RIANSITA
Student Number: 094214037
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2013
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A STUDY OF THE THEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF MAGIC
MARBLE AS THE MAIN SYMBOL IN MINFONG HO’S
THE CLAY MARBLE
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ULIA RIANSITA
Student Number: 094214037
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2013
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STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY
I honestly declare that this thesis, which I have written, does not contain
the work or parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations
and the references, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, September 6th, 2013
The writer,
Ulia Riansita
094214037
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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma
Nama
: Ulia Riansita
Nomor Mahasiswa
: 094214037
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yan berjudul
A Study of The Thematic Significance of Magic Marble as The Main Symbol
in Minfong Ho’s The Clay Marble
Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan
kepada perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan,
mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan
data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau
media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya
maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya
sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebernarnya
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 6 September 2013
Yang menyatakan,
Ulia Riansita
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How sad and bad and mad it was-
but then,
how it was sweet
(Robert Browning)
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For
My Lovely Mom, sister and brother
Who always support me.
Then,
For my beloved father who always
prays for me from Heaven.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I want to thank my Lord, Jesus Christ, for the blessing, care and love that
He gives in my life. Because of the blessing, I get health, spirit and will so I can
make all of the chapters to finish my undergraduate thesis.
I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. F.X. Siswadi, M.A. as my
advisor who always has patience in guiding me to make this thesis. I appreciate
his advice and support in the process of finishing this undergraduate thesis. I
would like to thank Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M. Hum. as my co-advisor who has
spent the time to read and give the great suggestion for my thesis.
I am thankful to all lecturers in Sanata Dharma University for all the
knowledge that they share, so I can use all of the knowledge in the process of
making an undergraduate thesis. I am also grateful to all the administrative staff in
the English Department of Sanata Dharma University for helping me in all cases
that happen during my study and to the staff of USD library for helping me in
finding information for my thesis.
I would like to show my deepest gratitude to my beloved mother who
always prays for me every day, every time and everywhere. I also want to thank
my sister, Valentina Cintya Arnisita, and my brother, Daniel Iga Ukiarwan, who
always give a great spirit in my life. I am grateful to Ian, Dori, Gita, Kezia, Aul,
Pucil who always support me. All of them are the best and great friends that I ever
have in my life.
Ulia Riansita
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ......................................................................................
APPROVAL PAGE ............................................................................
ACCEPTANCE PAGE ......................................................................
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ...................................
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI .................
MOTTO PAGE ..................................................................................
DEDICATION PAGE ........................................................................
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................
TABLE OF CONTENTS .....................................................................
ABSTRACT .........................................................................................
ABSTRAK............................................................................................
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CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ........................................................
A. . Background of the Study ...........................................................
B. Problem Formulation .................................................................
C. Objectives of the Study...............................................................
D. Definition of Terms ...................................................................
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CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW .......................................
A. Review of Related Studies .........................................................
B. Review of Related Theories .......................................................
1.Theory of Symbol ...................................................................
2.Theory of Theme ....................................................................
3.The Relation between Theme and Symbol ..............................
C. Theoretical Framework ..............................................................
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CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ...................................................
A. Object of the Study ....................................................................
B. Approach of the Study ...............................................................
C. Method of the Study ..................................................................
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CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ...............................................................
A. Symbols and the representations .................................................
1.Nong Chan .............................................................................
2.Stone Beam .............................................................................
3.Dolls .......................................................................................
4.Magic Marble .........................................................................
B. The thematic significance of magic marble ................................
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CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ..........................................................
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................
APPENDIX .........................................................................................
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ABSTRACT
ULIA RIANSITA. A STUDY OF THE THEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF
MAGIC MARBLE AS THE MAIN SYMBOL IN MINFONG HO’S THE
CLAY MARBLE. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters,
Sanata Dharma University, 2013.
One of the intrinsic elements of literature is symbol. Symbol is chosen as
the main point of this research because there are some symbols in The Clay
Marble. The symbols are related to each other. The significances of the main
symbol are used to convey theme of this story.
There are two problems that have to be answered in this research. Those
two problems are: (1) What is the main symbol in the story? (2) What is the
thematic significance of the main symbol in The Clay Marble?
The library research is used in this study. This research only uses written
source, like the books, to collect the data. Formalist approach is used to study this
research. It focuses on seeing the relation of the intrinsic elements in the story. In
this research, the focus is on the symbol in conveying theme.
There are four symbols in this novel. The first symbol is Nong Chan. It
symbolizes togetherness which Dara realizes when they come back to home. The
second symbol is stone beam. It symbolizes comfort in which Dara and her family
wants to get comfort in a life. The third symbol is the dolls. It symbolizes the
happiness which Dara gets when she becomes relative with Jantu. The fourth
symbol is magic marble. It represents Dara’s good thinking. The main symbol of
this story is the magic marble because it is the center of the other symbols. The
meaning of magic marble is known after the meaning of the other symbols is
represented. Magic marble means a good thinking which is used to reach all of the
togetherness, comfort and the happiness that Dara wants. With a good thinking,
there will be courage, conviction and spirit. After finding the symbols and the
significance of the magic marble, the theme can be formulated. The theme is all of
the courage, conviction and spirit from within oneself will help people to reach
the hopes.
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ABSTRAK
ULIA RIANSITA. A STUDY OF THE THEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF
MAGIC MARBLE AS THE MAIN SYMBOL IN MINFONG HO’S THE
CLAY MARBLE. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters,
Sanata Dharma University, 2013.
Simbol merupakan salah satu elemen intrinsik dalam sebuah karya sastra.
Ada beberapa simbol di The Clay Marble, sehingga simbol digunakan sebagai ide
pokok dalam penelitian ini. Simbol-simbol itu saling berhubungan satu sama lain,
terlebih dalam hubungannya dengan symbol utama dan representasi dari simbol
utama digunakan untuk menemukan tema dalam cerita ini.
Ada dua rumusan masalah yang harus dijawab melalui penelitian ini.
Kedua rumusan masalah tersebut adalah: (1) Apa simbol utama dalam cerita ini?
(2) Apa pentingnya symbol utama dilihat dari sudut pandang tema dalam cerita
ini?
Studi pustaka digunakan dalam penelitian ini. Penelitian ini hanya
menggunakan sumber tertulis, seperti buku-buku dalam mengumpulkan data.
Pendekatan formalis digunakan dalam penelitian ini. Pendekatan formalis berarti
hanya berpusat pada hubungan antar elemen-elemen intrinsic dalam cerita. Inti
dari penelian ini adalah bagaimana simbol menemukan tema dalam cerita.
Terdapat empat simbol dalam cerita ini. Simbol yang pertama adalah Nong
Chan. Nong chan merepresentasikan kebersamaan yang Dara inginkan ketika
kembali ke rumah. Simbol yang kedua adalah batu besar. Batu besar ini
merepresentasikan kenyamanan, dimana Dara dan keluarganya sangat merindukan
kenyamanan dalam kehidupannya. Simbol yang ketiga adalah boneka. Boneka
merepresentasikan kebahagiaan, yang Dara ingin dapatkan ketika bersaudara
dengan Jantu. Simbol yang keempat adalah kelereng ajaib. Simbol ini
merepresentasikan pikiran yang baik dari Dara. Simbol utama dalam cerita ini
adalah kelereng ajaib karena kelereng ajaib merupakan pusat dari symbol-simbol
yang lain. Makna dari kelereng ajaib diketahui setelah makna simbol-simbol yang
lain direpresentasikan. Kelereng ajaib merupakan pikiran yang baik yang
digunakan untuk mencapai kebersamaan, kenyamanan dan kebahagiaan yang
Dara inginkan. Dengan pikiran yang baik, Dara akan mendapat keberanian,
keyakinan dan semangat. Setelah menemukan simbol dan merepresentasikan
kelereng ajaib, tema cerita ini dapat dirumuskan. Tema cerita ini adalah segala
keberanian, keyakinan dan semangat dari dalam diri dapat membantu orang-orang
dalam mencapai apa yang diinginkan.
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Literature is a subject that is really interesting to be learned. People will
develop the imagination when reading literary works. According to Edgar V.
Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs in Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and Writing,
“When you read, you depend on your own effort and imagination. There are no
actors, no setting, no photographic or musical techniques to supersede your own
reconstruction of the author’s ideas” (1987:2). Literature does not have a rule for
people to express the mind when reading the work of literature. People also have
freedom to describe or imagine anything when reading the work of literature. So,
people can imagine the perception in reading a work of literature freely.
Literature is a way to express feelings. They can be happiness, emotion,
and sadness. People can show their feeling and emotion by writing or making the
work of literature. Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs also stated that, “it
exercises our emotions through the arousal of interest, concern, tension,
excitement, hope, fear, regret, laughter, and sympathy.” (1987:2) It means that
literature is the place in which people can share their feeling, and it is expected
that people can become free from their pressure of emotion after they show their
feeling through the work of literature.
One of the elements of literature is a symbol. A symbol is something that
has meanings. It represents something else beyond itself. A symbol represents
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something else based on the situation and condition of the story. The meaning of
symbol can be different. A symbol not only includes the objects, but also can be
character, setting, situation, condition and action which have a meaning which is
seen from its shape and have the other meaning from its ordinary meaning. As
Thomas and Johnson says in her book Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense, “It
may be an object, a person, a situation, and action, or some other element that has
a literal meaning in the story but that suggests or represents other meanings as
well”(2009:284).
According to Hans P. Guth and Gabriele L. Rico in the book Discovering
Literature: Stories, Poems, Plays,2nd edition, Symbol is “the mind’s eye takes in
images-vividly imagined details, shapes, textures, but often there is more than
meets the eye” (1997:189). It means that symbol is more than what people see. It
is not only about the form of that symbol, but also more than anything that people
know.
A symbol is not only considered to have a lot of meanings. A symbol can
stand by itself, it also can be linked to the other intrinsic elements. The writer can
relate the symbol with the theme. It is stated by Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E.
Jacobs in Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, “In literature, a
symbol pulls or draws together a specific thing with ideas, values, persons, or
ways of life, in a direct relationship that otherwise would not be apparent”
(1987:279). It tells that symbol can be related to the other intrinsic elements, such
as theme.
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This work of literature is an Asian novel which tells about a girl who
believes in a magic marble that will give luck for her. This story takes place in
Cambodia at the same time as the Cambodia’s War. This novel is like the
children’s book. However, it can be read by all ages, such as: adult, teen, and
children and it not only tells about the children’s experience but also about the
adult’s problem. So, it is categorized into adult’s book.
According to Rob Reid in the book Reid’s Read-Alouds 2, “the fighting
intensifies and Dara is separated from her family. She eventually finds them with
what she believes is the magic of a clay marble Jantu made” (2011:49). It means
that symbol is really significant in this story because it helps the character of the
story to be brave in finding the family. The half of the main character’s life
depends on the magic marble. The main character has the strength to survive and
to find the family because of the magic marble.
The writer thinks that this novel is really interesting because it is not only
about a common story, but also there is something unique in that story. The Clay
Marble not only tells about the child’s experiences with the family or friends, but
it tells about the efforts of a girl in the era of war with the help from the magic
marble, and it is never been exposed before. This novel is special because of the
author’s description about the magic marble and the affects to the story.
There are also some values that people can get after reading this novel.
The values of friendship, family, trust, etc can be found in this story. Those values
make the novel different and make the writer wants to use this novel to do a
research.
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The writer chooses the symbol as the topic of this research because there
are some symbols which are really interesting to be analyzed. There are some
objects which attract the writer’s attention, it makes the writer wants to analyze
symbol in this story.
This undergraduate thesis focuses on the magic marble, the main symbol
in this story. Magic marble is chosen because it has an important aspect or role to
the story. The writer chooses symbol as the topic of this thesis because the main
symbol in this story (magic marble) has the main role to the theme. The magic
marble has some important roles in this novel. Many repetitions of the words
“magic marble” appear in every chapter, it proves that a symbol is good to be
analyzed.
The writer relates a symbol and theme of the novel because those elements
are linked to each other. The magic marble in this story is believed as a main
symbol. This symbol gives the influences to the theme of the story. Magic marble
which always appears in every chapter proves that there is a something significant
in this chapter. Magic marble which is repeated in this story is used to convey the
theme of this story. Study of symbol, the meaning of the symbol and the
significances to the theme of The Clay Marble are quite interesting to be learned.
Minfong Ho uses ‘magic marble’ as a main symbol in this story. The
writer is interested in analyzing the symbol of marble, the meaning of it, the
representation and the significances to the theme of the story. To study this case,
the writer uses the formalist approach. This approach only focuses on the intrinsic
elements of the work of literature.
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B. Problem Formulation
1. What is the main symbol in the story?
2. What is the thematic significance of main symbol in The Clay Marble?
C. Objectives of the study
The aim of this study is to answer the research questions stated in the
problem formulation, which makes the writer have several objectives.
This research has two objectives. The first objective is to find the main
symbol in the story. To know the main symbol, the writer needs to describe and
explains the symbolical meaning of the other symbols and the writer has to show
the relation among them. The second objective is to explain what the thematic
significances of the main symbol. It means to show the theme which is derived
from the symbol.
D. Definition of terms
1. Symbol
In Hans P.Guth and Gabriele L.Rico in Discovering Literature: Stories,
Poems, Plays,2nd edition. Symbols are images that have meaning beyond
themselves. A symbol is a detail, a character, or an incident that has a meaning
beyond its literal role in the narrative (1997:189).
In Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama, X.J Kennedy
and Dana Gioia said that symbols generally do not stand for any one meaning,
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nor for anything absolutely definite; they point, they hint, or they cast long
shadows (1999:217).
So, symbol is an image which has more than one meaning. It is not only
has a literal meaning, but it has more meaning than itself.
2. Thematic Significance
According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English New Edition
for Advanced Learners, thematic means relating to a particular theme, or
organized according to a theme (2009:1827). Then, according to Perrine’s
Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense Tenth Edition, theme is its controlling idea
or its central insight (Thomas and Johnson, 2009:191)
According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English New Edition
for Advanced Learners, the significance means the importance of an event, action
etc (2009:1632).
So, the thematic significance is the importance and the meaning of
intention of novel related to the controlling idea.
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CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
According to Barbara Fister, in the book Third World Women’s Literature:
A Dictionary and Guide to Materials in English. Minfong Ho usually makes a
story and concerns to life. “She has written several novels for young readers in a
style that is realistic and complex, focusing on life in contemporary Thailand”
(1995:142). Ho has made a lot of novels and most of them always focus on the
life in Thailand. It is related to the theme of The Clay Marble which Ho makes.
Cathryn Berger Kayem also stated that, “Separated from her loved ones,
Dara discovers the courage and confidence to find her family” (2004:169). This
quotation also supports the Fister’s quotation above that theme of Minfong Ho’s
story is about life. The courage and confidence of Dara are very important points
in this story. The courage and confidence close to the idea of Minfong Ho in
making The Clay Marble.
The other criticism is about the main symbol. Seiwoong Oh in
Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Literature: Encyclopedia of Asian-American
Literature stated, “The protagonist makes friends with Jantu, who creates great
toys out of mud including a “magical” clay marble.” (2007:107) It tells about the
ordinary toy which is made by Jantu. However, there is a “magical” in the clay
marble which makes it as a great toy. It means that clay marble has more
meaning, it is not just an ordinary toy.
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There is an undergraduate thesis which analyzed similar topic. Ernesa
Novita Listyaningsih analyzed about a study of symbols in Andrea Hirata’s The
Rainbow Troops. She stated that, “All symbols in the novel fit naturally into the
context and form special connection with one another. This connection is related
to the theme of the novel” (2011:39). She also said that, “This symbol enables the
writer to evoke the emotion of the readers that the novel is mainly about
struggle”(2011:40). Those two quotations help the writer to develop the topic of
thesis. Especially, the statement that the symbol has special connection for the
theme strengthens this thesis. Related to this topic, the symbol in her thesis is
similar to the main symbol in this thesis which has significant influences to the
theme in The Clay Marble.
Antonia Rahayu Rosaria Wibowo studied about revealing the theme
through the symbols and their significance in August Strindberg’s The Ghost
Sonata. She stated that, “This research will explore the significance of some
symbols inside the play. After finding the significance of some symbols, the
theme of the play will be formulated” (2011:2). That quotation helps the writer to
develop topic of thesis. Related to this topic, the ways to find the symbol and
formulate the theme are similar with finding the theme of The Clay Marble.
The four studies reviewed above described different topics. The first
commented about the author of the story, Minfong Ho. It stated about the way
Minfong Ho develops a story and Ho’s idea in making a story. The second
discussed about the magic marble. It discussed about the magic marble which has
more meaning and it is important in the story. The third and fourth essays
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described the topic. They are about the similar topics that are made by the two
writers with the undergraduate thesis in 2007.
Even though this undergraduate thesis has similar topic with those two
studies, it has something new. This thesis is different from other studies, the
significant role of the symbol to the theme in this study is never been analyzed
before.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Symbol
A symbol is the thing which represents the other thing. A symbol has the
deeper meaning and more than it has. According to Hans P. Guth and Gabriele L.
Rico in Discovering Literature: Stories, Poems, Plays,2nd edition, symbol is “the
mind’s eye takes in image, vividly imagined details, shapes, textures. But often
we sense that there is more than meets the eye” (1997:189). It means that symbol
is not only anything that people see and know. The meaning of the symbol does
not depend on the thing that people commonly known, it has more meaning
outside the common knowledge. It does not have standardization but it is based on
the situation, condition and the context of the story.
Guth and Rico also add that there is a central symbol, “often a central
symbol becomes the focal point of a story. A central symbol focuses our attention.
A central symbol becomes the hub for meanings and associations.” (1997:192) It
means that the central symbol is the focuses in a story. Central symbol is similar
with the main symbol. According to The Penguin English Dictionary Second
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Edition, central is primary importance and principal (2003:221) and main is chief
or principal (2003:839). So, the central symbol is same with the main symbol. In
this case, the main symbol is the most important symbol of the story.
According to Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson in Perrine’s Literature:
Structure, Sound and Sense,10th edition. “It may be an object, a person, a
situation, an action, or some element that has a literal meaning in the story but that
suggests or represents other meanings as well” (2009:284). It means that
something which can be called a symbol is not only a thing or an object which has
a texture or shape, but it can be something out of an object. It can be the
characters in the story, the condition and element which have more meaning like
the settings of place in the story. So, some of places which are told by the author
might be symbols of the story. Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson also say,
“Symbol nearly always signals their existence by emphasis, repetition, or
position” (2009:290). It means that something can be called a symbol if the author
gives a sign of that existence. The signs of the existence can be seen by reading
whether the author emphasize the object or maybe the author uses a repetition
through the object so it is appeared in some context and in every chapter of a
story.
The explanation above also has a similar view with the theory of Silvan
Barnet, William Burto and William E. Cain in Literature for Composition:
Essays, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama.
If writers use symbol, they want readers to perceive…How do writers help
us to perceive these things? By emphasizing them-for instance, by
describing them at some length, or by introducing them at times when they
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might not seem strictly necessary, or by calling attention to them
repeatedly.(2011:361)
It is similar to the theory above about a symbol that the existence of
symbol is usually seen from the signals that are given by the author, such as:
repetition and emphasis. From this quotation, it is also told that the author also
gives a signal to the reader that something is a symbol by attracting the reader’s
attention in the explanation about an object in length. So, if something is told in
length, it might be a symbol.
To know more specific about a symbol and what kind of symbol that is
used in this story, the writer uses a theory about the types of symbol. According to
Holman and Harmon in A Handbook to Literature Fifth Edition, there are two
types of symbol. The first type is the public symbol. This symbol is used widely
and is known by many people and embodies a universal suggestion of meaning.
The second is private symbol. This symbol’s suggestiveness are not from qualities
inherent in itself but from the way in which it is used in a given work. (1986:494)
It means that the public symbol is the symbol which is usually used by people in
the story. It is the familiar symbol and most of the people know it. Then, the
private symbol is the symbol which is unfamiliar and this symbol is used only in
the work of literature itself.
There are some cautions to interpret a symbol from Thomas R. Arp and
Greg Johnson in Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense,10th edition.
1.
The story itself must furnish a clue that a detail is to be taken symbolically.
2.
The meaning of a literary symbol must be established and supported by the
entire context of the story.
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To be called a symbol, an item must suggest a meaning different in kind from
its literal meaning: a symbol is something more than the representative of a
class or type.
4.
A symbol may have more than one meaning. It may suggest a cluster of
meanings. (2009: 289-291)
It means that there are four ways to interpret that a subject is a symbol. It
can be seen from the clue that the author makes in the story. It also has more
maning than itself. A subject can be called a symbol when having different
meaning from its literal meaning. The meaning also relates to the context of the
story.
2. Theme
Theme is an important element in the story. Each story always has this
intrinsic element. According to X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia in the book
Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama, 7th edition, “Theme of
a story is whatever general idea or insight the entire story reveals” (1999:175). It
means that theme is a central point of a story. Readers usually understand the
story after reading it. The understanding of what the story reveals is also called
theme. “It may be what the happenings add up to, what the story is about.”
(1999:175) It means that theme focuses on what happens in the story and what the
story tells about. So, theme is the significant element which is used in the work of
literature.
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Theme in a story is not told directly. Theme of a story is known after the
reader finishes to read a story. As Thomas R.Arp and Greg Johnson stated in
Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense 10th edition, “More often,
however, the theme is implied.” (2009: 193) It supports the previous explanation
that theme is implied. The theme is not told by the author in the story. The reader
has to find the theme and the reader cannot know the theme of a story directly.
The reader has to read the entire story to know the theme which the author makes.
3. Relation between Symbol and Theme
According to Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs in Fiction: An
Introduction to Reading and Writing, “In a story, most things happen only as they
have a bearing on the idea. Thus, actions, characters, statements, symbols, and
dialogue may be judged in terms of how closely they relate to the idea or theme.”
(1987: 319) It means that theme has important relation in some intrinsic elements.
One of those elements is symbol. To know the theme of a story, the reader can
analyze one of the intrinsic elements, such as symbol because the symbol has a
close relation to the theme.
Roberts and Jacobs also said that “In this sense, a theme runs throughout a
story and ties things together much like a continuous threads. As a reader, we can
attempt to trace such threads, with all the patterns or variations that writers may
work upon them” (1987:319). It means that the intrinsic elements of fiction,
including symbol is analyzed to convey the theme of a story. Readers can try to
know the general idea of a story just by analyzing the intrinsic elements of a story.
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The writer can tie the symbols of the story to know the theme. So, the symbol is
useful to conclude the theme of a story.
Roberts and Jacobs also stated that theme can be drawn by a literary
variable, such as symbol. “To find ideas in fiction, one must read the work
carefully, considering the main characters and action and evaluating such
variables as tone, setting and symbolism” (1987:321). Symbol can help to show
and describe the theme of a story. Symbol is like a tool that helps the reader to
point out the theme of a story. By knowing the symbol and describe the meaning,
the reader can summarize the theme of what the story is talking about.
According to Kennedy and Gioia in Literature: An Introduction to Fiction,
Poetry and Drama, 7th edition, “An object, an act, or a character is surely
symbolic; If, when we finish the story, we realize that it was that item which led
us to the author’s theme, the essential meaning.” (1999: 219). It means that
symbol which is shown in the story allows people to know the theme that author
creates. The reader can conclude the theme after they finish reading the whole
story only by describing the symbol and analyzing the meaning of symbol in the
story. So, the reader will get the theme of the story.
C. Theoretical Framework
The focus of this study is the analysis of the significance of main symbol
for the theme. There are some theories that are used to study this research, the
theory of symbol, theory of theme, theory of the relation between symbol and
theme, and formalist approach.
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The theories of symbol are used to answer the first question in the problem
formulation which tells about the main symbol in the story and the theories of
theme and the relation between symbol and theme are use to answer the second
question which talks about the thematic significance of a symbol.
Theory of Hans P. Guth and Gabriele L. Rico is used to know the
definition of symbol in the story. The symbol is not only an object that people can
see, but it can be more. It means that the meaning of the symbol is not only from
the ordinary meaning, but it can have another meaning.
Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson’s theory is used to know the variation
forms of the symbol. A symbol is not only an object, but it can be the other
elements. A symbol can be a setting place, character, condition and situation in a
story.
Silvan Barnet, William Burto and William E. Cain’s view in Literature for
Composition: Essays, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama is used to know that an object
is a symbol or not. It explains that author always gives some clues to show that an
object is a symbol. This theory tells about the signs to know that something is a
symbol.
Holman and Harmon’s theory about two kinds of symbol is also used.
They say that there are two kinds of symbol. The writer only uses the second kind,
private symbol, which tells about the symbol that is known from the work itself. It
is not the symbol which is already known by some people. This theory helps the
writer to analyze which kind of symbol is.
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Theory of symbol by Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson is used to interpret
the meaning of symbol. There are some ways to know the interpretation of
symbol.
Then, to answer the question of problem formulation number two, the
writer uses some theories of theme. The writer uses the theory from X.J. Kennedy
and Dana Gioia in the book Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and
Drama, 7th edition, to know the definition of the theme and to show what the
theme looks like in the story.
Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson’s opinion stated in Perrine’s Literature:
Structure, Sound, and Sense 10th edition is used to know how the reader will know
the theme of a story. It is also used to relate the function of symbol in defining the
theme of the story.
Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs’ point of view in Fiction: An
Introduction to Reading and Writing and the theory of Kennedy and Gioia in
Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama Seventh edition are
used to tell the relation between theme and symbol.
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CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
This research uses the work of literature, The Clay Marble by Minfong
Ho. Minfong Ho is the author of literature and has reached a lot of awards from
her work. She spent most of her childhood in Thailand, then she studies in Taiwan
and at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The Clay marble is first published
in 1998 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York (Minfong Ho, 2006:4).
According to Rosann Jweid and Margaret Rizzo in Building Character
through Multicultural Literature: A Guide for Middle School Reader, Minfong Ho
has achieved a lot of awards. She gets National Council for the Social
Studies/Children’s Book Council Notable Children’s Book in the field of Social
Studies. The Clay Marble was chosen as the Best Books Selection for Parents
Magazine. She got an award American Bookseller Association “Pick of the List”
for The Clay Marble. She also gets The National Council of Teachers of English
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Language Arts. (2004:53)
The Clay Marble book consists of eighteen chapters. It has one hundred
and fifty two pages. In this book, there is an explanation about the author, preface,
story, afterword and explanation about the other books by Minfong Ho.
The Clay Marble was a work about a girl who lived in era of Cambodian
War. The main character was Dara, twelve years old girl is a member of
Cambodian family who must survive from her life. Because of the magic marble
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that her friend makes for her, she is sure that she can pass all problems in her life.
Following is Seiwoong Oh in Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Literature:
Encyclopedia of Asian-American Literature
the clay marble depicts the challenges faces by Dara, a 12-year-old
Cambodian girl who flees the Khmer Rouge to a refugee camp just across
the border in Thailand. The protagonist makes friends with Jantu, who
creates great toys out of mud including a ‘magical’ clay marble.
(2007:107)
From this quotation, the writer can see that Minfong Ho describes about life as a
point of this story. The life which is told in this story is related to the influences of
magic marble. The magic marble helps the character to survive from the problems
in life.
B. Approach of the Study
In study a literary work, the writer needs an approach which helps the
writer to analyze the novel. To analyze the important of the main symbol toward
the theme, the writer choose the criticism which is appropriate to be used.
According to Silvan Barnet, William Burto and William E. Cain in
Literature for Composition: Essays, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, “this kind of
study is called formalist criticism because the emphasis is on the form of the
work, the relationships between the parts-the construction of the plot, the contrasts
between characters, the function of rhymes, the point of view, and so on” (2011:
1349). It means that the researcher using this criticism to see the relation between
the parts of the intrinsic elements. There is no influence from any other source out
of the text, such as history and the author biography or experience.
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This approach is chosen to analyze The Clay Marble to see the development
of the story in the novel. The criticism is suitable because the focus of the analysis
will be on describing how the symbol related to the theme and what is the
significance of symbol to the theme. In addition, the study will focus on the text
only. For these reasons, the formalist approach is suitable to study this topic.
C. Method of the Study
To analyze this research, the writer used library research. It meant that the
writer only used the written sources. There were two sources which were used to
get information that related to the study. The primary source was The Clay Marble
book by Minfong Ho. The secondary sources were from the books and
undergraduate thesis. The books were about the theory of symbol, the theory of
theme, the theory of the relation between symbol and theme, the theory of
formalist approach, and the critic about the author Minfong Ho. The
undergraduate thesis had similar topic to this research.
Some of these books were Hans P. Guth And Gabriele L. Rico
Discovering Literature: Stories, Poems, Plays,2nd edition, Thomas R. Arp and
Greg Johnson Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense,10th edition,
Silvan Barnet, William E. Cain and William Burto Literature for Composition:
Essays, Stories, Poems and Plays 9th edition, Holman and Harmon A Handbook
to Literature 5th edition, Barbara Fister Third World Women’s Literature: A
Dictionary and Guide to Materials in English,
Cathrin Berger Kayem The
Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students
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in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, and Social Action, X.J. Kennedy
and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry , and Drama
Seventh Edition, Seiwoong Oh, Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Literature:
Encyclopedia of Asian-American Literature, Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E.
Jacobs Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, Mary Rohberger and
Samuel H. Woods In The Reading and Writing about Literature. The
undergraduate thesis which were used were from Ernesa Novita Listyaningsih’s A
Study of Symbols in Andrea hirata’s The Rainbow Troops and Antonia Rahayu
Rosaria Wibowo’s Revealing The Theme through The Symbols and Their
Significance in August Strindberg’s The Ghost Sonata.
To study this research, the writer used some steps. The first step was the
writer read the story and reread until understand what the story told about. Then,
the writer made the topic, formulated the problems and chose the appropriate
approach too.
Next, the writer had to find some books which were related to the study.
The books focused to the theories that were used and the approach that was used.
In this case, the writer searched some books which told about the theory of
symbol in literature and the theory about the theme to know what symbol and
theme look like. The writer also searched the book which explains theory of the
relation between symbol and theme, how they could influence each others. Then,
the writer used formalist approach to study this research.
After doing those steps, the writer answered the questions in the problem
formulation to make the analysis. The first analysis was to describe the symbols
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in the story and show the main symbol in this story. The writer described the
symbols looked like and decided which symbol was the main symbol. The writer
also described the symbolical meaning of the main symbol. The second analysis
was to tell the significances of the main symbol towards the theme. The writer
told about the role of the main symbol to the theme, the influences of the main
symbol to the theme and explained why the main symbol was important for the
theme. Then, the writer related the main symbol to the theme.
The last step of this research was to make the conclusion. The writer made
the conclusion after answering all problems formulation. The important point of
this research was put in the conclusion.
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CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
There are two parts which are divided in the chapter of analysis. The first
part is the analysis about the main symbol and the other three symbols in the
novel. The second part is the analysis about the significance of main symbol in the
novel related to the theme.
A. The Main Symbol
There are some symbols which exist in this novel. All of the symbols and
the meanings are important. However, there is only one main symbol in this story.
In this part, the writer will describe some of the important symbols and will
conclude the main symbol of this novel. According to Guth and Rico, main
symbol is the most important symbol in a story. There are four symbols in this
novel, Nong Chan, stone beam, dolls and magic marble.
Those symbols are called as symbols because related to some theories
about symbol. There are some signs to show that something is a symbol. The
repetition and emphasis are some of the signs. (Barnet, Burto and Cain, 2011:361)
There are also some cautions to interpret a symbol. If something has more than
one meaning, the meaning relates to the context of a story, and the meaning is
different from the literal meaning, so something can be called as a symbol.
(Thomas and Johnson, 2009:290)
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Nong Chan, stone beam, dolls and magic marble are told several times in
the story. It will attract the reader’s attention to the word which is told several
times in a story. They are also emphasized in the story and they are described in
length.
Nong chan, stone beam, dolls and magic marble have more than one
meaning. They have a meaning more than its meaning. They have the literal
meaning and the other meaning in the story. The meanings of them relate to the
context of the story.
From some explanations above, Nong Chan, stone beam, dolls and magic
marble can be called as symbol because they fulfill the cautions and signs of the
existence of symbol. They are repeated, emphasized, and explained in length.
They also have another meaning which is different from their literal meaning. So,
they are called symbols.
Related to theory of Holman and Harmon about two kinds of symbol, the
four symbols in The Clay Marble are private symbol. Private symbol is the
symbol which is only told in the story (1986:494). This symbol is not familiar. It
is only found in the story itself. The meaning of this symbol is not known before
people read the story. It also supports the theory of Thomas R.Arp and Greg
Johnson that the meaning of symbol is related to the context of a story. Those four
symbols have meaning which are related to the context and cannot be known
without reading the story.
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Nong chan, stone beam, dolls and magic marble fulfill the criteria of
symbol. To know deeply, the writer will give the proofs and more explanations
about those four symbols.
1. Nong Chan
Nong Chan is one of the settings of place in this novel. Nong Chan is a
refugee camp which is located in the border between Thai and Cambodia. Nong
chan in this story is one of the places that has a literal meaning and has another
meaning in the story.
Nong Chan in this story is described in length. In chapter one, there are
some descriptions about Nong Chan.
And he told us of his plans to cross overland through western Cambodia to
the border between our country and Thailand. He had rumors of a refugee
camp called Nong Chan, located on Thai-Cambodian border, where free
food and tools were being handed out.”
(p. 12)
From the quotation above, it is the evidence that Nong Chan is explained
in length. This quotation tells the location of Nong Chan and the rumors about
that refugee camp. It also shows the advantages that people can get in that place.
Nong chan is mentioned several times in the story. There are some
evidences in which Nong Chan is told many times in this story.
When Dara and her family travel to find the camp, Sarun, Dara’s brother,
helps a man, he gets rice seeds which the family really look for. Next, Sarun asks
to that man where the man gets those rice seeds and then the man gives the answer
of the place of the rice seeds.
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Sarun: Tell me where! Was it at the border?
The man: Of course, at Nong Chan.
Sarun: Nong Chan? It’s true, then? Those rumors of free food and supplies
at the refugee camp. It’s all true?
The man: Yes, brother, it’s all true, what they say about the border.
(p. 15)
Those utterances above are the proofs that Nong Chan is rea
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A STUDY OF THE THEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF MAGIC
MARBLE AS THE MAIN SYMBOL IN MINFONG HO’S
THE CLAY MARBLE
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ULIA RIANSITA
Student Number: 094214037
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2013
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A STUDY OF THE THEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF MAGIC
MARBLE AS THE MAIN SYMBOL IN MINFONG HO’S
THE CLAY MARBLE
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ULIA RIANSITA
Student Number: 094214037
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2013
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STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY
I honestly declare that this thesis, which I have written, does not contain
the work or parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations
and the references, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, September 6th, 2013
The writer,
Ulia Riansita
094214037
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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma
Nama
: Ulia Riansita
Nomor Mahasiswa
: 094214037
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yan berjudul
A Study of The Thematic Significance of Magic Marble as The Main Symbol
in Minfong Ho’s The Clay Marble
Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan
kepada perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan,
mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan
data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau
media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya
maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya
sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebernarnya
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 6 September 2013
Yang menyatakan,
Ulia Riansita
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How sad and bad and mad it was-
but then,
how it was sweet
(Robert Browning)
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For
My Lovely Mom, sister and brother
Who always support me.
Then,
For my beloved father who always
prays for me from Heaven.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I want to thank my Lord, Jesus Christ, for the blessing, care and love that
He gives in my life. Because of the blessing, I get health, spirit and will so I can
make all of the chapters to finish my undergraduate thesis.
I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. F.X. Siswadi, M.A. as my
advisor who always has patience in guiding me to make this thesis. I appreciate
his advice and support in the process of finishing this undergraduate thesis. I
would like to thank Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M. Hum. as my co-advisor who has
spent the time to read and give the great suggestion for my thesis.
I am thankful to all lecturers in Sanata Dharma University for all the
knowledge that they share, so I can use all of the knowledge in the process of
making an undergraduate thesis. I am also grateful to all the administrative staff in
the English Department of Sanata Dharma University for helping me in all cases
that happen during my study and to the staff of USD library for helping me in
finding information for my thesis.
I would like to show my deepest gratitude to my beloved mother who
always prays for me every day, every time and everywhere. I also want to thank
my sister, Valentina Cintya Arnisita, and my brother, Daniel Iga Ukiarwan, who
always give a great spirit in my life. I am grateful to Ian, Dori, Gita, Kezia, Aul,
Pucil who always support me. All of them are the best and great friends that I ever
have in my life.
Ulia Riansita
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ......................................................................................
APPROVAL PAGE ............................................................................
ACCEPTANCE PAGE ......................................................................
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ...................................
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI .................
MOTTO PAGE ..................................................................................
DEDICATION PAGE ........................................................................
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................
TABLE OF CONTENTS .....................................................................
ABSTRACT .........................................................................................
ABSTRAK............................................................................................
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
x
xi
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ........................................................
A. . Background of the Study ...........................................................
B. Problem Formulation .................................................................
C. Objectives of the Study...............................................................
D. Definition of Terms ...................................................................
1
1
5
5
5
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW .......................................
A. Review of Related Studies .........................................................
B. Review of Related Theories .......................................................
1.Theory of Symbol ...................................................................
2.Theory of Theme ....................................................................
3.The Relation between Theme and Symbol ..............................
C. Theoretical Framework ..............................................................
7
7
9
9
12
13
14
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ...................................................
A. Object of the Study ....................................................................
B. Approach of the Study ...............................................................
C. Method of the Study ..................................................................
17
17
18
19
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ...............................................................
A. Symbols and the representations .................................................
1.Nong Chan .............................................................................
2.Stone Beam .............................................................................
3.Dolls .......................................................................................
4.Magic Marble .........................................................................
B. The thematic significance of magic marble ................................
22
22
24
28
30
34
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CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ..........................................................
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................
APPENDIX .........................................................................................
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ABSTRACT
ULIA RIANSITA. A STUDY OF THE THEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF
MAGIC MARBLE AS THE MAIN SYMBOL IN MINFONG HO’S THE
CLAY MARBLE. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters,
Sanata Dharma University, 2013.
One of the intrinsic elements of literature is symbol. Symbol is chosen as
the main point of this research because there are some symbols in The Clay
Marble. The symbols are related to each other. The significances of the main
symbol are used to convey theme of this story.
There are two problems that have to be answered in this research. Those
two problems are: (1) What is the main symbol in the story? (2) What is the
thematic significance of the main symbol in The Clay Marble?
The library research is used in this study. This research only uses written
source, like the books, to collect the data. Formalist approach is used to study this
research. It focuses on seeing the relation of the intrinsic elements in the story. In
this research, the focus is on the symbol in conveying theme.
There are four symbols in this novel. The first symbol is Nong Chan. It
symbolizes togetherness which Dara realizes when they come back to home. The
second symbol is stone beam. It symbolizes comfort in which Dara and her family
wants to get comfort in a life. The third symbol is the dolls. It symbolizes the
happiness which Dara gets when she becomes relative with Jantu. The fourth
symbol is magic marble. It represents Dara’s good thinking. The main symbol of
this story is the magic marble because it is the center of the other symbols. The
meaning of magic marble is known after the meaning of the other symbols is
represented. Magic marble means a good thinking which is used to reach all of the
togetherness, comfort and the happiness that Dara wants. With a good thinking,
there will be courage, conviction and spirit. After finding the symbols and the
significance of the magic marble, the theme can be formulated. The theme is all of
the courage, conviction and spirit from within oneself will help people to reach
the hopes.
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ABSTRAK
ULIA RIANSITA. A STUDY OF THE THEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF
MAGIC MARBLE AS THE MAIN SYMBOL IN MINFONG HO’S THE
CLAY MARBLE. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters,
Sanata Dharma University, 2013.
Simbol merupakan salah satu elemen intrinsik dalam sebuah karya sastra.
Ada beberapa simbol di The Clay Marble, sehingga simbol digunakan sebagai ide
pokok dalam penelitian ini. Simbol-simbol itu saling berhubungan satu sama lain,
terlebih dalam hubungannya dengan symbol utama dan representasi dari simbol
utama digunakan untuk menemukan tema dalam cerita ini.
Ada dua rumusan masalah yang harus dijawab melalui penelitian ini.
Kedua rumusan masalah tersebut adalah: (1) Apa simbol utama dalam cerita ini?
(2) Apa pentingnya symbol utama dilihat dari sudut pandang tema dalam cerita
ini?
Studi pustaka digunakan dalam penelitian ini. Penelitian ini hanya
menggunakan sumber tertulis, seperti buku-buku dalam mengumpulkan data.
Pendekatan formalis digunakan dalam penelitian ini. Pendekatan formalis berarti
hanya berpusat pada hubungan antar elemen-elemen intrinsic dalam cerita. Inti
dari penelian ini adalah bagaimana simbol menemukan tema dalam cerita.
Terdapat empat simbol dalam cerita ini. Simbol yang pertama adalah Nong
Chan. Nong chan merepresentasikan kebersamaan yang Dara inginkan ketika
kembali ke rumah. Simbol yang kedua adalah batu besar. Batu besar ini
merepresentasikan kenyamanan, dimana Dara dan keluarganya sangat merindukan
kenyamanan dalam kehidupannya. Simbol yang ketiga adalah boneka. Boneka
merepresentasikan kebahagiaan, yang Dara ingin dapatkan ketika bersaudara
dengan Jantu. Simbol yang keempat adalah kelereng ajaib. Simbol ini
merepresentasikan pikiran yang baik dari Dara. Simbol utama dalam cerita ini
adalah kelereng ajaib karena kelereng ajaib merupakan pusat dari symbol-simbol
yang lain. Makna dari kelereng ajaib diketahui setelah makna simbol-simbol yang
lain direpresentasikan. Kelereng ajaib merupakan pikiran yang baik yang
digunakan untuk mencapai kebersamaan, kenyamanan dan kebahagiaan yang
Dara inginkan. Dengan pikiran yang baik, Dara akan mendapat keberanian,
keyakinan dan semangat. Setelah menemukan simbol dan merepresentasikan
kelereng ajaib, tema cerita ini dapat dirumuskan. Tema cerita ini adalah segala
keberanian, keyakinan dan semangat dari dalam diri dapat membantu orang-orang
dalam mencapai apa yang diinginkan.
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Literature is a subject that is really interesting to be learned. People will
develop the imagination when reading literary works. According to Edgar V.
Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs in Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and Writing,
“When you read, you depend on your own effort and imagination. There are no
actors, no setting, no photographic or musical techniques to supersede your own
reconstruction of the author’s ideas” (1987:2). Literature does not have a rule for
people to express the mind when reading the work of literature. People also have
freedom to describe or imagine anything when reading the work of literature. So,
people can imagine the perception in reading a work of literature freely.
Literature is a way to express feelings. They can be happiness, emotion,
and sadness. People can show their feeling and emotion by writing or making the
work of literature. Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs also stated that, “it
exercises our emotions through the arousal of interest, concern, tension,
excitement, hope, fear, regret, laughter, and sympathy.” (1987:2) It means that
literature is the place in which people can share their feeling, and it is expected
that people can become free from their pressure of emotion after they show their
feeling through the work of literature.
One of the elements of literature is a symbol. A symbol is something that
has meanings. It represents something else beyond itself. A symbol represents
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something else based on the situation and condition of the story. The meaning of
symbol can be different. A symbol not only includes the objects, but also can be
character, setting, situation, condition and action which have a meaning which is
seen from its shape and have the other meaning from its ordinary meaning. As
Thomas and Johnson says in her book Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense, “It
may be an object, a person, a situation, and action, or some other element that has
a literal meaning in the story but that suggests or represents other meanings as
well”(2009:284).
According to Hans P. Guth and Gabriele L. Rico in the book Discovering
Literature: Stories, Poems, Plays,2nd edition, Symbol is “the mind’s eye takes in
images-vividly imagined details, shapes, textures, but often there is more than
meets the eye” (1997:189). It means that symbol is more than what people see. It
is not only about the form of that symbol, but also more than anything that people
know.
A symbol is not only considered to have a lot of meanings. A symbol can
stand by itself, it also can be linked to the other intrinsic elements. The writer can
relate the symbol with the theme. It is stated by Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E.
Jacobs in Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, “In literature, a
symbol pulls or draws together a specific thing with ideas, values, persons, or
ways of life, in a direct relationship that otherwise would not be apparent”
(1987:279). It tells that symbol can be related to the other intrinsic elements, such
as theme.
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This work of literature is an Asian novel which tells about a girl who
believes in a magic marble that will give luck for her. This story takes place in
Cambodia at the same time as the Cambodia’s War. This novel is like the
children’s book. However, it can be read by all ages, such as: adult, teen, and
children and it not only tells about the children’s experience but also about the
adult’s problem. So, it is categorized into adult’s book.
According to Rob Reid in the book Reid’s Read-Alouds 2, “the fighting
intensifies and Dara is separated from her family. She eventually finds them with
what she believes is the magic of a clay marble Jantu made” (2011:49). It means
that symbol is really significant in this story because it helps the character of the
story to be brave in finding the family. The half of the main character’s life
depends on the magic marble. The main character has the strength to survive and
to find the family because of the magic marble.
The writer thinks that this novel is really interesting because it is not only
about a common story, but also there is something unique in that story. The Clay
Marble not only tells about the child’s experiences with the family or friends, but
it tells about the efforts of a girl in the era of war with the help from the magic
marble, and it is never been exposed before. This novel is special because of the
author’s description about the magic marble and the affects to the story.
There are also some values that people can get after reading this novel.
The values of friendship, family, trust, etc can be found in this story. Those values
make the novel different and make the writer wants to use this novel to do a
research.
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The writer chooses the symbol as the topic of this research because there
are some symbols which are really interesting to be analyzed. There are some
objects which attract the writer’s attention, it makes the writer wants to analyze
symbol in this story.
This undergraduate thesis focuses on the magic marble, the main symbol
in this story. Magic marble is chosen because it has an important aspect or role to
the story. The writer chooses symbol as the topic of this thesis because the main
symbol in this story (magic marble) has the main role to the theme. The magic
marble has some important roles in this novel. Many repetitions of the words
“magic marble” appear in every chapter, it proves that a symbol is good to be
analyzed.
The writer relates a symbol and theme of the novel because those elements
are linked to each other. The magic marble in this story is believed as a main
symbol. This symbol gives the influences to the theme of the story. Magic marble
which always appears in every chapter proves that there is a something significant
in this chapter. Magic marble which is repeated in this story is used to convey the
theme of this story. Study of symbol, the meaning of the symbol and the
significances to the theme of The Clay Marble are quite interesting to be learned.
Minfong Ho uses ‘magic marble’ as a main symbol in this story. The
writer is interested in analyzing the symbol of marble, the meaning of it, the
representation and the significances to the theme of the story. To study this case,
the writer uses the formalist approach. This approach only focuses on the intrinsic
elements of the work of literature.
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B. Problem Formulation
1. What is the main symbol in the story?
2. What is the thematic significance of main symbol in The Clay Marble?
C. Objectives of the study
The aim of this study is to answer the research questions stated in the
problem formulation, which makes the writer have several objectives.
This research has two objectives. The first objective is to find the main
symbol in the story. To know the main symbol, the writer needs to describe and
explains the symbolical meaning of the other symbols and the writer has to show
the relation among them. The second objective is to explain what the thematic
significances of the main symbol. It means to show the theme which is derived
from the symbol.
D. Definition of terms
1. Symbol
In Hans P.Guth and Gabriele L.Rico in Discovering Literature: Stories,
Poems, Plays,2nd edition. Symbols are images that have meaning beyond
themselves. A symbol is a detail, a character, or an incident that has a meaning
beyond its literal role in the narrative (1997:189).
In Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama, X.J Kennedy
and Dana Gioia said that symbols generally do not stand for any one meaning,
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nor for anything absolutely definite; they point, they hint, or they cast long
shadows (1999:217).
So, symbol is an image which has more than one meaning. It is not only
has a literal meaning, but it has more meaning than itself.
2. Thematic Significance
According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English New Edition
for Advanced Learners, thematic means relating to a particular theme, or
organized according to a theme (2009:1827). Then, according to Perrine’s
Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense Tenth Edition, theme is its controlling idea
or its central insight (Thomas and Johnson, 2009:191)
According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English New Edition
for Advanced Learners, the significance means the importance of an event, action
etc (2009:1632).
So, the thematic significance is the importance and the meaning of
intention of novel related to the controlling idea.
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CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
According to Barbara Fister, in the book Third World Women’s Literature:
A Dictionary and Guide to Materials in English. Minfong Ho usually makes a
story and concerns to life. “She has written several novels for young readers in a
style that is realistic and complex, focusing on life in contemporary Thailand”
(1995:142). Ho has made a lot of novels and most of them always focus on the
life in Thailand. It is related to the theme of The Clay Marble which Ho makes.
Cathryn Berger Kayem also stated that, “Separated from her loved ones,
Dara discovers the courage and confidence to find her family” (2004:169). This
quotation also supports the Fister’s quotation above that theme of Minfong Ho’s
story is about life. The courage and confidence of Dara are very important points
in this story. The courage and confidence close to the idea of Minfong Ho in
making The Clay Marble.
The other criticism is about the main symbol. Seiwoong Oh in
Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Literature: Encyclopedia of Asian-American
Literature stated, “The protagonist makes friends with Jantu, who creates great
toys out of mud including a “magical” clay marble.” (2007:107) It tells about the
ordinary toy which is made by Jantu. However, there is a “magical” in the clay
marble which makes it as a great toy. It means that clay marble has more
meaning, it is not just an ordinary toy.
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There is an undergraduate thesis which analyzed similar topic. Ernesa
Novita Listyaningsih analyzed about a study of symbols in Andrea Hirata’s The
Rainbow Troops. She stated that, “All symbols in the novel fit naturally into the
context and form special connection with one another. This connection is related
to the theme of the novel” (2011:39). She also said that, “This symbol enables the
writer to evoke the emotion of the readers that the novel is mainly about
struggle”(2011:40). Those two quotations help the writer to develop the topic of
thesis. Especially, the statement that the symbol has special connection for the
theme strengthens this thesis. Related to this topic, the symbol in her thesis is
similar to the main symbol in this thesis which has significant influences to the
theme in The Clay Marble.
Antonia Rahayu Rosaria Wibowo studied about revealing the theme
through the symbols and their significance in August Strindberg’s The Ghost
Sonata. She stated that, “This research will explore the significance of some
symbols inside the play. After finding the significance of some symbols, the
theme of the play will be formulated” (2011:2). That quotation helps the writer to
develop topic of thesis. Related to this topic, the ways to find the symbol and
formulate the theme are similar with finding the theme of The Clay Marble.
The four studies reviewed above described different topics. The first
commented about the author of the story, Minfong Ho. It stated about the way
Minfong Ho develops a story and Ho’s idea in making a story. The second
discussed about the magic marble. It discussed about the magic marble which has
more meaning and it is important in the story. The third and fourth essays
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described the topic. They are about the similar topics that are made by the two
writers with the undergraduate thesis in 2007.
Even though this undergraduate thesis has similar topic with those two
studies, it has something new. This thesis is different from other studies, the
significant role of the symbol to the theme in this study is never been analyzed
before.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Symbol
A symbol is the thing which represents the other thing. A symbol has the
deeper meaning and more than it has. According to Hans P. Guth and Gabriele L.
Rico in Discovering Literature: Stories, Poems, Plays,2nd edition, symbol is “the
mind’s eye takes in image, vividly imagined details, shapes, textures. But often
we sense that there is more than meets the eye” (1997:189). It means that symbol
is not only anything that people see and know. The meaning of the symbol does
not depend on the thing that people commonly known, it has more meaning
outside the common knowledge. It does not have standardization but it is based on
the situation, condition and the context of the story.
Guth and Rico also add that there is a central symbol, “often a central
symbol becomes the focal point of a story. A central symbol focuses our attention.
A central symbol becomes the hub for meanings and associations.” (1997:192) It
means that the central symbol is the focuses in a story. Central symbol is similar
with the main symbol. According to The Penguin English Dictionary Second
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Edition, central is primary importance and principal (2003:221) and main is chief
or principal (2003:839). So, the central symbol is same with the main symbol. In
this case, the main symbol is the most important symbol of the story.
According to Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson in Perrine’s Literature:
Structure, Sound and Sense,10th edition. “It may be an object, a person, a
situation, an action, or some element that has a literal meaning in the story but that
suggests or represents other meanings as well” (2009:284). It means that
something which can be called a symbol is not only a thing or an object which has
a texture or shape, but it can be something out of an object. It can be the
characters in the story, the condition and element which have more meaning like
the settings of place in the story. So, some of places which are told by the author
might be symbols of the story. Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson also say,
“Symbol nearly always signals their existence by emphasis, repetition, or
position” (2009:290). It means that something can be called a symbol if the author
gives a sign of that existence. The signs of the existence can be seen by reading
whether the author emphasize the object or maybe the author uses a repetition
through the object so it is appeared in some context and in every chapter of a
story.
The explanation above also has a similar view with the theory of Silvan
Barnet, William Burto and William E. Cain in Literature for Composition:
Essays, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama.
If writers use symbol, they want readers to perceive…How do writers help
us to perceive these things? By emphasizing them-for instance, by
describing them at some length, or by introducing them at times when they
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might not seem strictly necessary, or by calling attention to them
repeatedly.(2011:361)
It is similar to the theory above about a symbol that the existence of
symbol is usually seen from the signals that are given by the author, such as:
repetition and emphasis. From this quotation, it is also told that the author also
gives a signal to the reader that something is a symbol by attracting the reader’s
attention in the explanation about an object in length. So, if something is told in
length, it might be a symbol.
To know more specific about a symbol and what kind of symbol that is
used in this story, the writer uses a theory about the types of symbol. According to
Holman and Harmon in A Handbook to Literature Fifth Edition, there are two
types of symbol. The first type is the public symbol. This symbol is used widely
and is known by many people and embodies a universal suggestion of meaning.
The second is private symbol. This symbol’s suggestiveness are not from qualities
inherent in itself but from the way in which it is used in a given work. (1986:494)
It means that the public symbol is the symbol which is usually used by people in
the story. It is the familiar symbol and most of the people know it. Then, the
private symbol is the symbol which is unfamiliar and this symbol is used only in
the work of literature itself.
There are some cautions to interpret a symbol from Thomas R. Arp and
Greg Johnson in Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense,10th edition.
1.
The story itself must furnish a clue that a detail is to be taken symbolically.
2.
The meaning of a literary symbol must be established and supported by the
entire context of the story.
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To be called a symbol, an item must suggest a meaning different in kind from
its literal meaning: a symbol is something more than the representative of a
class or type.
4.
A symbol may have more than one meaning. It may suggest a cluster of
meanings. (2009: 289-291)
It means that there are four ways to interpret that a subject is a symbol. It
can be seen from the clue that the author makes in the story. It also has more
maning than itself. A subject can be called a symbol when having different
meaning from its literal meaning. The meaning also relates to the context of the
story.
2. Theme
Theme is an important element in the story. Each story always has this
intrinsic element. According to X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia in the book
Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama, 7th edition, “Theme of
a story is whatever general idea or insight the entire story reveals” (1999:175). It
means that theme is a central point of a story. Readers usually understand the
story after reading it. The understanding of what the story reveals is also called
theme. “It may be what the happenings add up to, what the story is about.”
(1999:175) It means that theme focuses on what happens in the story and what the
story tells about. So, theme is the significant element which is used in the work of
literature.
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Theme in a story is not told directly. Theme of a story is known after the
reader finishes to read a story. As Thomas R.Arp and Greg Johnson stated in
Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense 10th edition, “More often,
however, the theme is implied.” (2009: 193) It supports the previous explanation
that theme is implied. The theme is not told by the author in the story. The reader
has to find the theme and the reader cannot know the theme of a story directly.
The reader has to read the entire story to know the theme which the author makes.
3. Relation between Symbol and Theme
According to Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs in Fiction: An
Introduction to Reading and Writing, “In a story, most things happen only as they
have a bearing on the idea. Thus, actions, characters, statements, symbols, and
dialogue may be judged in terms of how closely they relate to the idea or theme.”
(1987: 319) It means that theme has important relation in some intrinsic elements.
One of those elements is symbol. To know the theme of a story, the reader can
analyze one of the intrinsic elements, such as symbol because the symbol has a
close relation to the theme.
Roberts and Jacobs also said that “In this sense, a theme runs throughout a
story and ties things together much like a continuous threads. As a reader, we can
attempt to trace such threads, with all the patterns or variations that writers may
work upon them” (1987:319). It means that the intrinsic elements of fiction,
including symbol is analyzed to convey the theme of a story. Readers can try to
know the general idea of a story just by analyzing the intrinsic elements of a story.
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The writer can tie the symbols of the story to know the theme. So, the symbol is
useful to conclude the theme of a story.
Roberts and Jacobs also stated that theme can be drawn by a literary
variable, such as symbol. “To find ideas in fiction, one must read the work
carefully, considering the main characters and action and evaluating such
variables as tone, setting and symbolism” (1987:321). Symbol can help to show
and describe the theme of a story. Symbol is like a tool that helps the reader to
point out the theme of a story. By knowing the symbol and describe the meaning,
the reader can summarize the theme of what the story is talking about.
According to Kennedy and Gioia in Literature: An Introduction to Fiction,
Poetry and Drama, 7th edition, “An object, an act, or a character is surely
symbolic; If, when we finish the story, we realize that it was that item which led
us to the author’s theme, the essential meaning.” (1999: 219). It means that
symbol which is shown in the story allows people to know the theme that author
creates. The reader can conclude the theme after they finish reading the whole
story only by describing the symbol and analyzing the meaning of symbol in the
story. So, the reader will get the theme of the story.
C. Theoretical Framework
The focus of this study is the analysis of the significance of main symbol
for the theme. There are some theories that are used to study this research, the
theory of symbol, theory of theme, theory of the relation between symbol and
theme, and formalist approach.
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The theories of symbol are used to answer the first question in the problem
formulation which tells about the main symbol in the story and the theories of
theme and the relation between symbol and theme are use to answer the second
question which talks about the thematic significance of a symbol.
Theory of Hans P. Guth and Gabriele L. Rico is used to know the
definition of symbol in the story. The symbol is not only an object that people can
see, but it can be more. It means that the meaning of the symbol is not only from
the ordinary meaning, but it can have another meaning.
Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson’s theory is used to know the variation
forms of the symbol. A symbol is not only an object, but it can be the other
elements. A symbol can be a setting place, character, condition and situation in a
story.
Silvan Barnet, William Burto and William E. Cain’s view in Literature for
Composition: Essays, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama is used to know that an object
is a symbol or not. It explains that author always gives some clues to show that an
object is a symbol. This theory tells about the signs to know that something is a
symbol.
Holman and Harmon’s theory about two kinds of symbol is also used.
They say that there are two kinds of symbol. The writer only uses the second kind,
private symbol, which tells about the symbol that is known from the work itself. It
is not the symbol which is already known by some people. This theory helps the
writer to analyze which kind of symbol is.
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Theory of symbol by Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson is used to interpret
the meaning of symbol. There are some ways to know the interpretation of
symbol.
Then, to answer the question of problem formulation number two, the
writer uses some theories of theme. The writer uses the theory from X.J. Kennedy
and Dana Gioia in the book Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and
Drama, 7th edition, to know the definition of the theme and to show what the
theme looks like in the story.
Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson’s opinion stated in Perrine’s Literature:
Structure, Sound, and Sense 10th edition is used to know how the reader will know
the theme of a story. It is also used to relate the function of symbol in defining the
theme of the story.
Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs’ point of view in Fiction: An
Introduction to Reading and Writing and the theory of Kennedy and Gioia in
Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama Seventh edition are
used to tell the relation between theme and symbol.
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CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
This research uses the work of literature, The Clay Marble by Minfong
Ho. Minfong Ho is the author of literature and has reached a lot of awards from
her work. She spent most of her childhood in Thailand, then she studies in Taiwan
and at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The Clay marble is first published
in 1998 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York (Minfong Ho, 2006:4).
According to Rosann Jweid and Margaret Rizzo in Building Character
through Multicultural Literature: A Guide for Middle School Reader, Minfong Ho
has achieved a lot of awards. She gets National Council for the Social
Studies/Children’s Book Council Notable Children’s Book in the field of Social
Studies. The Clay Marble was chosen as the Best Books Selection for Parents
Magazine. She got an award American Bookseller Association “Pick of the List”
for The Clay Marble. She also gets The National Council of Teachers of English
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Language Arts. (2004:53)
The Clay Marble book consists of eighteen chapters. It has one hundred
and fifty two pages. In this book, there is an explanation about the author, preface,
story, afterword and explanation about the other books by Minfong Ho.
The Clay Marble was a work about a girl who lived in era of Cambodian
War. The main character was Dara, twelve years old girl is a member of
Cambodian family who must survive from her life. Because of the magic marble
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that her friend makes for her, she is sure that she can pass all problems in her life.
Following is Seiwoong Oh in Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Literature:
Encyclopedia of Asian-American Literature
the clay marble depicts the challenges faces by Dara, a 12-year-old
Cambodian girl who flees the Khmer Rouge to a refugee camp just across
the border in Thailand. The protagonist makes friends with Jantu, who
creates great toys out of mud including a ‘magical’ clay marble.
(2007:107)
From this quotation, the writer can see that Minfong Ho describes about life as a
point of this story. The life which is told in this story is related to the influences of
magic marble. The magic marble helps the character to survive from the problems
in life.
B. Approach of the Study
In study a literary work, the writer needs an approach which helps the
writer to analyze the novel. To analyze the important of the main symbol toward
the theme, the writer choose the criticism which is appropriate to be used.
According to Silvan Barnet, William Burto and William E. Cain in
Literature for Composition: Essays, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, “this kind of
study is called formalist criticism because the emphasis is on the form of the
work, the relationships between the parts-the construction of the plot, the contrasts
between characters, the function of rhymes, the point of view, and so on” (2011:
1349). It means that the researcher using this criticism to see the relation between
the parts of the intrinsic elements. There is no influence from any other source out
of the text, such as history and the author biography or experience.
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This approach is chosen to analyze The Clay Marble to see the development
of the story in the novel. The criticism is suitable because the focus of the analysis
will be on describing how the symbol related to the theme and what is the
significance of symbol to the theme. In addition, the study will focus on the text
only. For these reasons, the formalist approach is suitable to study this topic.
C. Method of the Study
To analyze this research, the writer used library research. It meant that the
writer only used the written sources. There were two sources which were used to
get information that related to the study. The primary source was The Clay Marble
book by Minfong Ho. The secondary sources were from the books and
undergraduate thesis. The books were about the theory of symbol, the theory of
theme, the theory of the relation between symbol and theme, the theory of
formalist approach, and the critic about the author Minfong Ho. The
undergraduate thesis had similar topic to this research.
Some of these books were Hans P. Guth And Gabriele L. Rico
Discovering Literature: Stories, Poems, Plays,2nd edition, Thomas R. Arp and
Greg Johnson Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense,10th edition,
Silvan Barnet, William E. Cain and William Burto Literature for Composition:
Essays, Stories, Poems and Plays 9th edition, Holman and Harmon A Handbook
to Literature 5th edition, Barbara Fister Third World Women’s Literature: A
Dictionary and Guide to Materials in English,
Cathrin Berger Kayem The
Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students
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in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, and Social Action, X.J. Kennedy
and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry , and Drama
Seventh Edition, Seiwoong Oh, Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Literature:
Encyclopedia of Asian-American Literature, Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E.
Jacobs Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, Mary Rohberger and
Samuel H. Woods In The Reading and Writing about Literature. The
undergraduate thesis which were used were from Ernesa Novita Listyaningsih’s A
Study of Symbols in Andrea hirata’s The Rainbow Troops and Antonia Rahayu
Rosaria Wibowo’s Revealing The Theme through The Symbols and Their
Significance in August Strindberg’s The Ghost Sonata.
To study this research, the writer used some steps. The first step was the
writer read the story and reread until understand what the story told about. Then,
the writer made the topic, formulated the problems and chose the appropriate
approach too.
Next, the writer had to find some books which were related to the study.
The books focused to the theories that were used and the approach that was used.
In this case, the writer searched some books which told about the theory of
symbol in literature and the theory about the theme to know what symbol and
theme look like. The writer also searched the book which explains theory of the
relation between symbol and theme, how they could influence each others. Then,
the writer used formalist approach to study this research.
After doing those steps, the writer answered the questions in the problem
formulation to make the analysis. The first analysis was to describe the symbols
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in the story and show the main symbol in this story. The writer described the
symbols looked like and decided which symbol was the main symbol. The writer
also described the symbolical meaning of the main symbol. The second analysis
was to tell the significances of the main symbol towards the theme. The writer
told about the role of the main symbol to the theme, the influences of the main
symbol to the theme and explained why the main symbol was important for the
theme. Then, the writer related the main symbol to the theme.
The last step of this research was to make the conclusion. The writer made
the conclusion after answering all problems formulation. The important point of
this research was put in the conclusion.
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CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
There are two parts which are divided in the chapter of analysis. The first
part is the analysis about the main symbol and the other three symbols in the
novel. The second part is the analysis about the significance of main symbol in the
novel related to the theme.
A. The Main Symbol
There are some symbols which exist in this novel. All of the symbols and
the meanings are important. However, there is only one main symbol in this story.
In this part, the writer will describe some of the important symbols and will
conclude the main symbol of this novel. According to Guth and Rico, main
symbol is the most important symbol in a story. There are four symbols in this
novel, Nong Chan, stone beam, dolls and magic marble.
Those symbols are called as symbols because related to some theories
about symbol. There are some signs to show that something is a symbol. The
repetition and emphasis are some of the signs. (Barnet, Burto and Cain, 2011:361)
There are also some cautions to interpret a symbol. If something has more than
one meaning, the meaning relates to the context of a story, and the meaning is
different from the literal meaning, so something can be called as a symbol.
(Thomas and Johnson, 2009:290)
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Nong Chan, stone beam, dolls and magic marble are told several times in
the story. It will attract the reader’s attention to the word which is told several
times in a story. They are also emphasized in the story and they are described in
length.
Nong chan, stone beam, dolls and magic marble have more than one
meaning. They have a meaning more than its meaning. They have the literal
meaning and the other meaning in the story. The meanings of them relate to the
context of the story.
From some explanations above, Nong Chan, stone beam, dolls and magic
marble can be called as symbol because they fulfill the cautions and signs of the
existence of symbol. They are repeated, emphasized, and explained in length.
They also have another meaning which is different from their literal meaning. So,
they are called symbols.
Related to theory of Holman and Harmon about two kinds of symbol, the
four symbols in The Clay Marble are private symbol. Private symbol is the
symbol which is only told in the story (1986:494). This symbol is not familiar. It
is only found in the story itself. The meaning of this symbol is not known before
people read the story. It also supports the theory of Thomas R.Arp and Greg
Johnson that the meaning of symbol is related to the context of a story. Those four
symbols have meaning which are related to the context and cannot be known
without reading the story.
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Nong chan, stone beam, dolls and magic marble fulfill the criteria of
symbol. To know deeply, the writer will give the proofs and more explanations
about those four symbols.
1. Nong Chan
Nong Chan is one of the settings of place in this novel. Nong Chan is a
refugee camp which is located in the border between Thai and Cambodia. Nong
chan in this story is one of the places that has a literal meaning and has another
meaning in the story.
Nong Chan in this story is described in length. In chapter one, there are
some descriptions about Nong Chan.
And he told us of his plans to cross overland through western Cambodia to
the border between our country and Thailand. He had rumors of a refugee
camp called Nong Chan, located on Thai-Cambodian border, where free
food and tools were being handed out.”
(p. 12)
From the quotation above, it is the evidence that Nong Chan is explained
in length. This quotation tells the location of Nong Chan and the rumors about
that refugee camp. It also shows the advantages that people can get in that place.
Nong chan is mentioned several times in the story. There are some
evidences in which Nong Chan is told many times in this story.
When Dara and her family travel to find the camp, Sarun, Dara’s brother,
helps a man, he gets rice seeds which the family really look for. Next, Sarun asks
to that man where the man gets those rice seeds and then the man gives the answer
of the place of the rice seeds.
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Sarun: Tell me where! Was it at the border?
The man: Of course, at Nong Chan.
Sarun: Nong Chan? It’s true, then? Those rumors of free food and supplies
at the refugee camp. It’s all true?
The man: Yes, brother, it’s all true, what they say about the border.
(p. 15)
Those utterances above are the proofs that Nong Chan is rea