Ali, Waqar, and Farman Khan. “A Critical Discourse Analysis of Oscar Wilde’s Short Story The Happy Prince: A Norman Fairclough Approach.” The Lighthouse Journal of Literature & Linguistics 1.01 (2022): 24-34.
In this article, Ali et al. examine the critical discourse analysis of language in relation to the usage of ideology, social structures, and power. The article seeks to unmask texts’ underlying power dynamics and hidden meanings. In the context of “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde 1888, the article applies the critical discourse analysis approach, specifically the Norman Fairclough framework, to analyze and examine “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde. Oscar Wilde’s “The Happy Prince” is a highly recognized short story narrating the tale of a swallow and a statute prince working tirelessly to eradicate the suffering of the city’s marginalized and poor. “The Happy Prince” is, in most cases, regarded as a social critique of inequality and often explores various themes such as sacrifice, the nature of beauty, and compassion.
In the article, the authors have explored and analyzed how social ideologies and power relations are manifested in the discourse and language of the story. In addition, the authors have examined the representation of certain groups, the portrayal and depiction of characters, and certain ideologies such as charity, social norms, and class distinctions are incorporated in the story. Applying Norman Fairclough’s frameworks allows the authors to focus on social structures, social practices, and linguistic features. Fairclough’s approach prioritizes the interplay between power relations, discourse, and social context. It involves analyzing rhetorical devices, grammar, and language choices to uncover texts’ social effects and ideological implications.
Kirvalidze, Nino, and Nino Samnidze. “Aesthetic Morality and Intertextuality of Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince and Other Tales.” International Journal of Arts and Sciences 11.01 (2018): 343-356.
Oscar Wilde’s “The Happy Prince and Other Tales” is a library of short stories exploring and examining themes related to society, art, and morality. “Aesthetic morality” can be described as an idea of art, including literature, which uniquely shapes ethical perspectives and moral values. The article suggests that the experiences of aesthetics are crucial in contributing to moral understanding and provoking moral reflection. “intertextuality” refers to the references and interconnections between various texts. In the article, the authors have examined how Oscar Wilde’s short stories, such as “The Happy Prince”, refer to or engage with other cultural contexts, other literal works, and historical events. Intertextuality is crucial in providing insights into the influences and more profound meanings behind Oscar Wilde’s stories. Overall, the authors have explored and examined the relationship between intertextuality, morality, and aesthetic experiences within Wilde’s collections. The article delves into how Oscar Wilde’s short stories provoke ethical reflection, are associated with moral questions, and use diverse cultural and literal references to enrich and enhance their meanings.
Liang, Yuanyuan. “An Estranged Perception: Metatheatricality of Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince and Other Tales.” Children’s Literature in Education 53.2 (2022): 238-250.
In the article, “An Estranged Perception: Metatheatricality of Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince and Other Tales” (Children’s Literature in Education, 2022), Liang Yuanyuan has explored and examined the idea of metatheatricality of “The Happy Prince and Other Tales” by Oscar Wilde. Metatheaticality can be described as self-referentiality or self-consciousness of theatrical works. The concept is associated with elements within a literary work or play that draw attention simply because it is considered a constructed art form. Such assumptions blur the boundaries between reality and fiction. The technique is helpful because it allows authors to reflect upon or give comments based on the nature of performance, theatre, and storytelling.
The article analyzes how the elements within a collection of these stories, such as dialogue, characters, themes, or narrative structure, are associated with metatheatrical practices. By analyzing the meta-theatricality of Oscar Wilde’s work, the author has explored how the stories engage with the author’s role, the characteristics of storytelling itself, the relationship between the text and the audience, and meanings construction within a narrative. The author has also investigated how metatheatrical methods enhance and promote the reader’s understanding and engagement of the stories.