| Poetry is the mainstream of ancient Chinese literature.Classical Chinese novels ,which have the Characteristic of"synthesis of various styles", have rich poetic features by the impact of poetry in ancient China. Poetic features can be regarded as the most typical ethnic characteristics of classical Chinese novels. As for the subject between novels and poems on the one hand, and between the ancient literature and literary theory on the other, many scholars have exerted great efforts in the related discussion, which, however, are either limited to a given stage or to a certain aspect. As a result, they are far from systematic and comprehensive. Centering on the origin of classical Chinese novel poetic features and its functions, effects and causes, this thesis tries to reveal all the basic outline of classical Chinese novels'poetic features and to make an overall presentation of the corresponding variation effect on classical Chinese novels'narrative elements. This thesis is composed of the introduction and five chapters.The introduction discusses the research history and status, makes clear the concept of classical Chinese novels'poetic features, presenting the research value, methods and innovation of this topic.The research history and status can be divided into three stages: the simple feeling period (before 1897), the conscious exposition period(1897– 1980), and the in - depth study period (after 1981). Then the definition of the novel and the classical novel are discussed. The concept of classical Chinese novels'poetic features can be expressed in Zhao Yanwei's"Shibi"which refers to the features of novels similar to those of poetry because the author of novels employs the writing skills generally used in poetry creation. The denotation of such poetic features include the dominant poetic form of language and the hidden poetic soul that appears in the poetic conception of the novel and the lyricalfeatures,etc. Modern researchers's knowledge of"Shibi"has undergone a process from concrete to abstract, from the outside to inside,from shallow to deep, and from simple to complex. The first chapter is firstly the analysis of the source of the classical Chinese novels'poetic features, mainly discussing the lyric method most typical of Chinese characteristics in the Book of Songs'"Fu ,bi, xing"and Chu Ci's symbolism, because they have been inherited by the classical Chinese novels of later generations;secondly deal with are the poetic stories, poetic characters and poetic environment in the Book of Songs and Chu Ci because they are the good models for the poetic variation of narrative elements in the aftertime classical Chinese novels; thirdly discussed are the Pre - Qin zhuzi's prose fiction factor and its poetic features because they can be regarded as direct source of later classical Chinese novels'poetic features;fourthly discussed are the early historical literature because they have established the poetic tradition of Chinese narrative literature.The second chapter presents an analysis of the changes of classical Chinese novels'poetic features, pointing out that the classical Chinese novels'poetic features have varied in different historical periods. Generally speaking, before the Tang Dynasty classical Chinese novels'poetic features are natural and refreshing. The characteristics in the Tang Dynasty is poetry creation in the way of novels. Classical Chinese novels'poetic features of the Song and Yuan Dynasties are one of Secularization. The features of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are in the form of assortment. Before the Tang dynasty poems in classical Chinese novel were less than in the later ones, but they are naturaland fresh; they contain many parallel proses and verses, but lack routines in parallel proses and verses of later novels; not far from the ancient, before the Tang Dynasty novels are abundant in metaphors and symbols, which is beyond the reach of later generations. Authors of the Tang Dynasty wrote novels in the way of poems, which makes its poetic feathers better than before and after the Tang Dynasty. Poems in novels of the Tang Dynasty were more than before the Tang Dynasty and less than after the Tang Dynasty, but the overall quality of the poems in the novels of the Tang Dynasty were inferior to those before and the after. In terms of parallel proses and prose poetry images, metaphors and symbols in novels of the Tang Dynasty are less than before the Tang Dynasty, but they are more poetic than those before the Tang Dynasty; and the poetic images are original in the Tang Dynasty and beyond comparison of later stereotypes. As for the subject matter of novels, novels of the Tang Dynasty were unique and lyric, with obvious increase in romantic novels. Such works similar to the subject matter of poetry have provided good conditions for the Tang Dynasty in integrating into poetry, expressing feelings,and refining the images. The title of classical Chinese novels in Song and Yuan Dynasties appear in seven words and such titles contains more narrative information than those of three-or-four- word titles of the Tang Dynasty; Compared with poems in novels of the Tang Dynasty, those in the Song Dynasty are more powerful in terms of narration, but weaker in lyrical features, which makes novels of the Song dynasty novels much less lyrical feelings.Parallel proses in novels of the Song Dynasty lack such novelty as that in novels of the Song Dynasty. Instead of originality, stereotype get the upper hand. Characteristics of classical Chinese novels of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are diversified, and the poetic features are also varied. The third chapter is an analysis of the function of classical Chinese novels'poetic features. Poetic features in classical Chinese novels have narrative functions,describing function,lyric function and arguing function. In terms of the narrative functions, poetry and the parallel prose in novels have the function of order;in addition, children ballads,divining poems are often able to forecast or imply the latter plot, thereby endowing them with preliminary narrative functions; and the poetry and parallel prose also are often used to repeat what has happened in the story, so they have the function of retelling narration.Poetic features of classical Chinese novels are particularly typical in the descriptive function. The language description, appearance description, action description and psychological description of characters in the novel are achieved with the poetry and parallel prose. Of the early novels,Yan Danzi and Wuyuechunqiu are typical of language description; appearance descriptions and actions descriptions appear in Luoshen Fu and You Xianku in large amount; and lyric poetry in the novels bears the function of psychological description. Fu, poems and parallel proses in classical Chinese novels used to describe the environment as in Mu tianzi zhuan and Yan Danzi; in Qincao such descriptive function becomes more apparent; since You Xianku, the massive crambo and parallel prose have been used consciously to describe the environment.The lyric function of lassical Chinese novels'poetic features is more obvious, because it includes both the transfer of the parallel prose's lyricism in classical Chinese novels to classical Chinese novels, and the lyrical artistic conception of the prose in classical Chinese novels. The lyric function of poetry has found full expression in Mu Tianzi Zhuan and Yan Danzi, while Shishuoxinyu is a typical example of prose lyric. Poetry and the parallel prose in classical Chinese novelare also capable of discussions function.The parallel prose in the Yan Danzi, the poetry in the Yunxiyouyi and poems in Hanshiwaizhuan and Lienuzhuan, the"Yishishi-Yue"in the Strange Tales of a Lonely Studio all have very obvious discussion functions.The fourth chapter deals with the poetic tendency of plots,figures and environments of classical Chinese novels.Classical Chinese novels'poetic plot is chiefly manifested in two aspects: poetry and parallel proses emerging in the novels on the one hand, poetic variation of the plot of the novel on the other. These variations have weakened the plot of the novel but strengthened lyricis of novels. Consequently, the narration of novels is not detailed, concrete, coherent,but rather simple, general, discontinuous instead.The specific methods of expression are characteristic of the fragment of narrative rhythm and jumping, symbolism and generality the narrative tactics. This is the inevitable result that the author wrote novels in the attitude and method of poetry creation. Shen Yazhi's novels are endowed with the features above. So they are called by Li Jianguo as emotional novels, poetic novels, lyrical novel or novels of artistic conception.Poetic features of characters in classical Chinese novels are mainly manifested in that the characters something of a talent or beauty. These figures have extraordinary talent, burning poetic features, unusual appearance and graceful manners, which can find expression in Mu Tianzi Zhuan ,the legend of Tang Dynasty and Yulihun, and consequently have formed a great tradition. The number and quality of such images in Chinese classical is so great that it constitutes the major difference between characteristics of Chinese novels and Western novels. As far as the specific works are concerned, Shishuoxinyu features the creation of group figures with fragments. Characters in the essays bear such features as fragment, simplitlicity, stillness, which is the poetic style and can single out one particular aspect of the figure in the principle of concentration. And when more than 1200 fragments are organized into a book, the group of characters of Wei and Jin Dynasties are created vividly with unique personalities. Different from the fragment description of Shishuoxinyu, You Xianku creates Zhang Wencheng, Shiniang, the fifth sister-in-law is in a complete story with long and continuous forms. Descriptions being limited to only three characters, so the poetic language,appearance, action and psychological descriptions are concentrated in the three people. So image of the three people is round and personally unique, and their language, appearance, actions and feelings are also poetic.The fifth chapter discusses the causes of classical Chinese novels'poetic features, pointing out the inevitability of classical Chinese novels'poetic characteristics. China has the world's oldest and most successful poetry education tradition, which enables the ancient Chinese to enhance their attention to moral and at the political levels. It also exposes the ancient Chinese in the poetic atmosphere, and enables them to have developed the poetic thinking and mastered the skill of poetry writing and to have become great poets. Poetry is the mainstream of ancient Chinese literature, and poetry has always been advocated by the rulers. So Chinese novels cannot avoid being affected by poetry, the former having not been independent for a long time. Chinese is a language with poetic characteristics. In contrast with vernacular, Chinese classical novels have more obvious poetic features. In addition, the world view of ancient China is poetic as well, which has certain effect on the poetic features of classical Chinese novels. In particular, the idea of the unspeakable"Dao"and the integration of man and nature has inserted great influence on the images and the artistic conception. |
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