Arab Educational Information Network

The current study aims at identifying the uses of symbolism in stories and tales written by Kamil Kilani (1897 - ) for kindergarten children and its pedagogical implications. The study has depended on a nominal sample of thirteen stories written by "Kamil Kilani" for Kindergarten children. Afterwards, data was analyzed and the results were extracted. The study followed the critical semiological method to trace symbolism of characters' names in Kilani's stories and tales. The study examined how symbols are functioned in the kindergarten stories by Kilani, especially in terms of the characters' names and the names of items therein; where symbol refers to educational values from two aspects: Firstly; values of truth, justice and goodness by means of some names that carry the same meanings and semiotic features on the positive direction. Secondly, using disadvantageous names, Kilani's tales employed symbolism to alienate negative and wicked qualities which children may consciously or unconsciously embrace. In other words, it is possible to conclude that the names in Kilani's literature are formed positively or negatively using symbols and lexical elements that are charged with pedagogical implications. (Published abstract)