Analyzing the Application of Text World Theory in Identifying Abstract Meaning in The Little Black Fish

Abstract

The present study aims to analyze and identify abstract meanings in the story The Little Black Fish based on Text World Theory. This research adopts a qualitative, analytical–descriptive approach and, by focusing on the identification of narrative elements, the semantic and structural relationships among them, and the implicit messages of the text, seeks to achieve a deeper understanding of the process of meaning construction in children’s narratives. The research data were collected from the complete text of the story, and their analysis was conducted using the theoretical framework of Text World Theory. The findings indicate that the main character, parents, the natural environment, other creatures, and events each play a significant role in shaping meaning and abstract messages. The protagonist symbolizes growth, curiosity, and the exploration of the world, and his interaction with parents and the environment reveals the tension between limitation and freedom as well as the learning process. The semantic relationships among narrative elements—including opposition, interaction, cooperation, and competition—and the connection between symbols and the narrative systematically convey the moral, educational, and social messages of the text. Furthermore, the analysis of the story’s abstract meaning shows that growth and experience, social relationships, limitation and freedom, ethics and values, and nature and the surrounding world constitute the most important semantic and symbolic layers of the text. The results emphasize that Text World Theory is an effective tool for analyzing hidden layers of meaning and symbolic structures in literary works, particularly in the field of children’s and young adult literature. This framework enables the systematic examination of educational and ethical messages and the abstract analysis of narratives, and it can assist researchers and educators in achieving a deeper understanding of texts and enhancing literary analysis skills.