The Sociological Research Of Chinese Novels In The 20～(th) Century

Ancient Chinese novels grew mainly out of a foundation in ancient works of Chinese history. In the course of their later development, Chinese novels were clearly influenced by a historical consciousness and formed a distinctive sociological tradition. While following a natural pattern of literary movement and progress, these works also responded to the objective demands of China's social reformation and development in the 20th century. The link between the past and the future formed by these 20th century novels and the way they wrestle with the reality have substantially enriched their sociological implications and given rise to 20th century Chinese novels that reflect the special characteristics and experience of China's sociological development.Due to great differences in formative process, Chinese novels and Western novels have produced very different influences on society. There are also striking differences in the way that Chinese novels and Western novels approach literary point of view, creative pursuit, and narrative method. Defining the special characteristics of a novel, creating characters, and interpreting themes are all divergent aspects of Chinese and Western literary traditions, and there are obvious differences in the ways each tries to master literary trends or define the author's relationship to society.On account of special social and historical conditions in 20th century China, and as a result of mastering the special features of a novel along with the ability to see and understand the relationship between novels and society, 20th century modern and contemporary Chinese novels have begotten a wealth of vivid experience in the realm of sociological development and they have accumulated numerous admonitions that may serve to instruct later generations.In the same way that novels must face reality and seek to serve as a means of social development for human beings, so literary theory and criticism should endeavor to enhance a person's ability to systematically and effectively comprehend a novel. In this respect, literary works can and should be adapted to the important role of social criticism - even to the point of criticizing social history. On this basis, the task of establishing and developing a sociology of literature that possesses Chinese characteristics and can adapt to the aesthetic standards and the needs of 21st century readers remains an arduous and important one.