The animated graphic novel "The Boat" that was created in 2015 by SBS and Matt Huynh tells the story of 16-year-old Mai who is a Vietnamese refugee at the end of the Vietnam War. It is based on the short story The Boat by Nam Le. The reader follows her as she is escaping the country by a boat towards Australia. As The Boat belongs to the category of digital literature, the story is enhanced with audiovisual content. This paper aims to analyze the story in order to either validate or negate the thesis whether the actual boat in The Boat is metaphorically paralleling the emotional turmoil a refugee is experiencing when escaping their country.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Digital Literature
- Definition of Digital Literature
- Chances of Digital Literature in the EFL Classroom
- The Boat by SBS
- Summary
- Text Analysis
- Aspects of Cultural Learning
- Implications for the EFL Classroom
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes the digital graphic novel The Boat, examining whether the boat serves as a metaphor for the emotional turmoil experienced by Vietnamese refugee Mai during her escape. The analysis investigates the impact of the weather on the boat as a reflection of Mai's emotional state. The study aims to validate or negate this metaphorical interpretation.
- The definition and characteristics of digital literature.
- The potential of digital literature in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms.
- Metaphorical representation of emotional states in The Boat.
- Cultural learning aspects related to the Vietnam War, migration, and refugees depicted in the story.
- Pedagogical implications of using The Boat in EFL contexts.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of The Boat by contrasting traditional reading with the enriched experience offered by digital literature. It introduces the central thesis: that the boat in the story metaphorically represents the emotional journey of the refugee protagonist, Mai. The chapter outlines the structure of the paper, detailing how the subsequent chapters will define digital literature, analyze The Boat, explore its cultural implications for EFL teaching, and conclude with a summary of findings.
2. Digital Literature: This chapter defines digital literature, differentiating it from e-books and other digital narratives. It discusses key characteristics such as interactivity, intermediality (the combination of various media forms), and its unique mode of production. The chapter also highlights the potential benefits of incorporating digital literature into EFL classrooms, suggesting its potential to increase student engagement and reading comprehension. This chapter contrasts the passive nature of traditional reading with the active, multimedia involvement fostered by digital storytelling.
3. The Boat by SBS: This chapter provides an overview of The Boat, its origins as an adaptation of Nam Le's short story, and its genre as an animated graphic novel. It distinguishes digital graphic novels from their print counterparts, emphasizing the added layers of movement, sound, and interactive elements. The chapter sets the context for the subsequent analysis by defining the unique features of the digital medium employed in the storytelling.
Keywords
Digital literature, graphic novel, Vietnamese refugee, Vietnam War, metaphor, emotional turmoil, EFL classroom, cultural learning, multimedia storytelling, interactive narratives.
Frequently Asked Questions: The Boat - A Digital Literature Analysis
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper analyzes the digital graphic novel "The Boat," focusing on whether the boat acts as a metaphor for the emotional journey of Mai, a Vietnamese refugee. It explores the impact of weather on the boat as a reflection of Mai's emotional state and aims to validate or refute this metaphorical interpretation. The study also examines the use of digital literature in EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classrooms.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis of "The Boat"?
Key themes include the definition and characteristics of digital literature, its potential in EFL classrooms, metaphorical representation of emotional states in "The Boat," cultural learning aspects related to the Vietnam War, migration, and refugees, and the pedagogical implications of using "The Boat" in EFL contexts.
What is the significance of the "boat" in the narrative?
The central research question revolves around the interpretation of the boat as a metaphor for the emotional turmoil experienced by the protagonist, Mai, during her escape. The analysis investigates how the depiction of the weather impacting the boat reflects Mai's emotional state.
How does the paper define digital literature?
The paper defines digital literature, differentiating it from e-books and other digital narratives. It emphasizes key characteristics such as interactivity, intermediality (combining various media forms), and its unique mode of production. The contrast between passive traditional reading and the active, multimedia engagement of digital storytelling is highlighted.
What are the benefits of using digital literature in EFL classrooms, according to the paper?
The paper suggests that incorporating digital literature into EFL classrooms can increase student engagement and reading comprehension due to its interactive and multimedia nature.
What is the background of "The Boat"?
The paper describes "The Boat" as an animated graphic novel, an adaptation of Nam Le's short story. It highlights the differences between digital and print graphic novels, focusing on the added layers of movement, sound, and interactive elements offered by the digital format.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the paper?
The paper provides summaries for each chapter, including an introduction outlining the central thesis, a chapter on digital literature defining its characteristics and classroom applications, a chapter dedicated to "The Boat" analyzing its features and context, and a concluding chapter summarizing the findings.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include: Digital literature, graphic novel, Vietnamese refugee, Vietnam War, metaphor, emotional turmoil, EFL classroom, cultural learning, multimedia storytelling, interactive narratives.
What is the overall objective of this research?
The primary objective is to analyze the metaphorical use of the boat in "The Boat" to represent the emotional journey of the refugee protagonist and to explore the pedagogical implications of using this digital graphic novel in EFL teaching.
- Quote paper
- Hannah Koch (Author), 2019, The Boat. Metaphorical Usage of a Boat in a Work of Digital Literature, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1027142
