Red Classics Of The Narrative Mode In Chinese Traditional Novels

Taking the"Red Classics"as the research subject, this thesis aims to probe into the inheritance and recomposition of Chinese traditional novels'narrative mode. According to the literary research theories of Rene Wellek and Austin Warren about"internal research"and"external research",the author builds up the frame structure during the process of the research. The thesis gives thorough reading and analysis for the texts of the"Red Classics",applying prototype criticism and relevant narrative theories as well as related aspects of mass culture theory and carnival theory.Based on the above-mentioned research thought train and methods,the author believes that around the founding of the People's Republic of China, the saga novels of"Red Classics",with the Speech at Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art by Mao Zedong as their writing principles,establishes their foothold through incessant adaptation and regulation with double standards of"Popularization"and"Artistry". Specifically speaking,on the one hand,the"Popularization", to some extent,inevitably destroys the"Artistry"of literary works,which makes"Red Classics"novels tend to be symbolized and patternized;on the other hand,although patternization of the"Red Classics"has been denounced by critics,it is popular with the public because it corresponds with the overall literary level and quality of readers.The thesis synthesizes the writing modes which have caused sharp reception contrast between the critics and readers and classifies them in five sections. The guiding part reviews the research situation of"Red Classics"in different phases,based on which the research perspective and methods are established,and the innovation and contribution of the thesis are summarized in four aspects.The first chapter gives a contrast between the"Red Classics"and the popular literary and it is found that the"Red Classics"has countless ties with the vulgarization of the literary source. From the ties,we can see that the"Red Classics"is deeply and firmly rooted among the popular,the legends of"Red Classics"feature interesting reading which is the key characteristic of popular literature,and the"Red Classics"has features of the mass culture such as patternization and carnivalization. This chapter also indicates the close relationship between the representation of these characteristics and the discourse right of"Red Classics". The second chapter summarizes the plot modes of"Red Classics"as follows:influenced by the tradition of Chinese traditional literature,in which the number is emphasized,the 3-centered numeric mode has been set up in"Red Classics"; the"Red Classics"has inherited the writing modes of"being forced to revolt"and"two parts ready for fight"; the long-standing revenge literary tradition has been inherited and recomposed in"Red Classics"; the traditional growth mode has witnessed the major characters'growing experience in the new era ,such as workers,peasants and soldiers. The third chapter discusses the character modes in"Red Classics", in which the traditional heroic theme has been rewritten. In tradition,there are some apotheosized heroes with"induction and strange feature",who become heroes of half human being and half deity workers,peasants and soldiers. The multitude is one narrative mode of traditional novels. The characters created in"Red Classics"take on obvious multitudinal characteristics, which are magnified extremely and squeeze characters'individuality. Formulization is one important expressive technique of Chinese traditional literature. The tendency of being formulaic is evident in"Red Classics". But some successfully molded small potatoes are corrected. The opposition between the loyal and the evil is the moral standard of characters'classification in Chinese traditional culture. With this influence,before the change into betrayers in the"Red Classics",there will be certain omens as if these characters are born as conspirators and rebels. It is undoubtedly the writing strategy in traditional mode. The fourth chapter presents the mode relationship between"Red Classics"and traditional novels,mainly by describing tradition of violence,diet and flesh and blood and so on. The appropriation of these traditional techniques is in the context of revolution so as to represent new characteristics and marks of entanglement between the new and the old. In language field,it can be both voiced and voiceless. Permeating these strong boorish characteristics of language surface with carnival quality,we can see the recluse of discourse right .