Synecdoche And Stephen Owen's Research On Classical Chinese Literature

American sinologist Stephen Owen is an expert specializing in classical poetry and Chinese literature. In his works"Remembrance", a book with academic speculation and literal interest, Owen mentioned synecdoche in Chinese literature. Synecdoche is a process in which the author bridge human and nature by using his/her imagination, or by means of figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole; and the readers comprehend the author's limited and uncompleted expression. Synecdoche is a description of Chinese traditional literature language and poetry reading habit, which generalizes how literature forerunners create poetry and how they interpret poetry. This dissertation tries to discuss the phenomenon of synecdoche and Stephen Owen's unique research methods by studying some of his works, implores the synecdoche in classical literary works and literary theory and discovers the significance of Stephen Owen's critical practice and global academic background.In addition to the introduction and the conclusion, this dissertation is divided into five parts. The introduction gives a brief introduction to Stephen Owen's academic career, his philosophy of Chinese literature and a brief presentation of the theme of the whole dissertation.Chapter one provides Stephen Owen's idea: synecdoche in classical Chinese literature which generalizes how literature forerunners create poetry and how they interpret poetry.Chapter two takes mist and remembrance as examples and discusses synecdoche in classical literary work from the perspective of Owen's unique interpretation style. Chapter three implores synecdoche in Chinese literary theory from the perspective of Owen's interpretation on Chinese literary terms and Ouyangxiu's"Liuyi Shihua".The conclusion gives the summary of the whole dissertation and assesses the value and influence of Owen's Chinese literature study.