The Ogre’s Head: A Composite Semiotic Study of a Children’s Story

Abstract

This article investigates how semiotic theory can illuminate children’s storytelling by analyzing The Ogre’s Head, a tale crafted to steer young readers toward virtuous choices. After an introduction, the preface outlines core semiotic concepts that frame the study. Section 1 tracks “metanarrative dynamics,” pinpointing the cues—both conceptual and procedural—that usher the audience into the story world. Section 2 dissects the narrative’s architecture through a blended semiotic lens that merges sign analysis, the actantial model, and the semiotics of emotions. Findings show that visible signs (images, motifs, names) are inseparably woven into the plot’s action path, and both layers are powered by the characters’ emotive drives. This tri-level synergy mobilizes meaning: symbols circulate, shift value, and build tension until they culminate in a cathartic release that reaffirms good over evil. The study concludes that the tale’s persuasive force lies in how it synchronizes sign systems with emotional logic, offering children a coherent map for ethical orientation while showcasing the pedagogical potential of composite semiotic analysis.