A Study On The Pre-Qin Fables

If we say that pre-Qin literature is the fountainhead of the Chinese civilization, we may also regard the pre-Qin fables as a brilliant pearl in this area.The pre-Qin fables are short but exquisite. They are implicit,humorous and ironic, with an artful way of explaining some abstruse philosophy.The thesis focuses on pre-Qin figural fables. It is comprised of four parts, that is, the general profile of the fables, the literary character images, its artistic characteristics as well as the social situation revealed by the fables. The first chapter sketches out the general profile of the pre-Qin fables. It offers the concept of the fables, its development trail, its sorts and its connotation. Besides, the feature of the fables centered on the figural stories is highlighted in Chapter One.In the second chapter, the figural images emerged in the fables are categorized and analyzed. The typical three kinds of characters are mentioned, that is, the wise, the gigmanity and the miraculous person. The third chapter will highlight the artistic characteristics of the fables. The following four aspects are related: the way to make the vivid character images, the simple but splendid story plot, the unique narrative style as well as its other artistic expressive means.The last chapter talks about the social situation revealed in the pre-Qin fables. We'll take a bird's-eye view of the pre-Qin fables and come to an understanding of the social outlook and the people's life experience of its time.