Narrating And Identifying:a Study On The New Poetry Anthology In The Republic Of China

This dissertation attempts to probe into the problems in the editing processes of the Anthology of Chinese New Poetry as well as the challenges that emerged, so that a holistic classification is achieved with regard to various versions of the Anthology of Chinese New Poetry published in the Republic of China. This study focuses primarily on the anthology itself:on the one hand, the Anthology of Chinese New Poetry is treated as a literary activity closely associated with new poetry critique; on the other hand, it is treated as a poetry activity that aims to gain position, broaden topics, construct modern image as well as create classics in poetry. Therefore, the internal conditions, the external factors and the contemporary theme revealed in the Anthology of Chinese New Poetry are the highlights of this study.This study is centered upon the issues of the narration style and the legitimacy identification of the Anthology of Chinese New Poetry. Different themes and case studies are presented in the chapters, so that the backgrounds, editing styles, narrative mechanisms, poetic and societal motivations, the diffusion, as well as the impact on the image of new poetry are thoroughly examined. The research methodologies include, but are not limited to, restoration, comparison and analysis, so that a combined methodology of quantitative analysis and case study is formed in order to reveal this problem step by step.This study is divided into6chapters. Chapter One focuses on the Anthology of Chinese New Poetry and how new poetry gained its legitimate position, by analyzing the two earliest new poetry anthologies A Collection of New Poetry and A classified Selection of Poetry in Baihua. Chapter Two examines how the Anthology of Chinese New Poetry and the works of newly-published literature maintained their positions. The impact on the construction of new poetry is studied through an analysis of editing strategies, poetic values and the formation of classics from the Annual Selection of New Poetry published in1992. Chapter Three studies the development of the Anthology of Chinese New Poetry and Chinese language education. Based on a survey into what and how the Anthology of Chinese New Poetry were introduced into textbooks, the issue of how new poetry, as a resource, assisted the development of language education is examined from the perspective of the educational system, the editing processes of textbooks as well as issues involved in the publication processes. Chapter Four focuses on4female new poetry anthologies published in the Republic of China and attempts to analyze the relationship between female poets, the readers' patterns and their backgrounds. Chapter Five discovers the richness, the process and the style of the construction of historical scenes in new poetry from the perspective of the Anthology of Chinese New Poetry and its historical narration. Chapter Six observes the orientation, narration, planning and interpretation of new poetry in the Poetry Anthology of the Like-minds, based on its publication style and aggressiveness. With the above-mentioned analysis, the legitimacy process and motivation of new poetry are therefore clearly presented.