This research aims to explain the values of character education contained in the novel Kata karya Rintik Sedu and its relevance to literary learning at the high school level based on the Independent Curriculum. This study uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. Data was obtained through reading and recording techniques for the text of the novel Kata karya Rintik Sedu. The research instruments include researchers as data collectors and analyzers as well as a categorization sheet of character education values, namely care, hard work, and responsibility. Data were analyzed by qualitative descriptive analysis techniques through the stages of collecting, grouping, and interpreting character education values that appeared in the text. The results of the study show that the novel Kata contains character education values in the form of care, hard work, and responsibility that are implicitly conveyed through the experience and development of the main character. These findings show that the Kata novel has the potential as a literary teaching material that supports the formation of students' character and is relevant to be integrated in literary learning in schools in accordance with the goals of the Independent Curriculum. AbstrakPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan nilai-nilai pendidikan karakter yang terdapat dalam novel Kata karya Rintik Sedu serta relevansinya dengan pembelajaran sastra pada jenjang pendidikan menengah atas berdasarkan Kurikulum Merdeka. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Data diperoleh melalui teknik baca dan catat terhadap teks novel Kata karya Rintik Sedu. Instrumen penelitian meliputi peneliti sebagai pengumpul dan penganalisis data serta lembar kategorisasi nilai-nilai pendidikan karakter, yaitu kepedulian, kerja keras, dan tanggung jawab. Data dianalisis dengan teknik analisis deskriptif kualitatif melalui tahap pengumpulan, pengelompokan, dan penafsiran nilai-nilai pendidikan karakter yang muncul dalam teks. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa novel Kata memuat nilai-nilai pendidikan karakter berupa kepedulian, kerja keras, dan tanggung jawab yang disampaikan secara implisit melalui pengalaman dan perkembangan tokoh utama. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa novel Kata memiliki potensi sebagai bahan ajar sastra yang mendukung pembentukan karakter peserta didik dan relevan untuk diintegrasikan dalam pembelajaran sastra di sekolah sesuai dengan tujuan Kurikulum Merdeka.
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