Literature as a Medium of Moral Education: An Analysis of Educational Values in the Short Story Anthology Heart To Me by Wa Mirna

English

Abstract

Literary works play a crucial role not only as a medium of aesthetic expression but also as a vehicle for value education and character formation. This study aims to describe and analyze the moral educational values contained in the short story anthology Heart To Me by Wa Mirna, as well as to examine their relevance for readers within social and educational contexts. The research adopts a descriptive qualitative approach employing content analysis as its method. The research data consist of textual excerpts from the short stories that reflect moral educational values. Data were collected through careful reading and systematic note-taking, while data analysis was conducted by classifying the data according to moral value concepts related to human behavior, particularly distinctions between good and bad conduct. The findings reveal that the anthology Heart To Me encompasses a wide range of moral educational values, including filial piety, responsibility, ethics, friendship, empathy, honesty, resilience, courage, and compassion toward fellow human beings and other living creatures. These values are conveyed through the depiction of characters, conflicts, and events that closely reflect real-life experiences, thereby fostering readers’ moral reflection and ethical awareness. The discussion emphasizes that moral values in the short stories are not merely presented in a normative manner but are contextual and applicable to everyday life. Overall, this study concludes that Heart To Me demonstrates strong potential as a medium for moral and character education. These findings underscore the importance of utilizing literary works in literature instruction and character education, while also opening avenues for further research on the application of moral values in literature within formal educational settings.