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On The " Literature Is Human Science " Theoretical Connotation And Significance

Posted on:2006-03-19Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:J HuangFull Text:PDF
GTID:2205360185964408Subject:Literature and art
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
The assertion "literature is the study of man" first set forth explicitly in China by Qian Gurong has been widely accepted and applied in contemporary literature theoretical circle. It is in his well-known thesis entitled "On 'Literature is the Study of Man'" that Qian put forward this assertion, which represents the highest level of literary theory of that time. Although inflicted hardship on for almost twenty years, instead of giving up his theory, Qian has been insisting on proving it theoretically as well as practically.On the basis of carefully reading and analysis, the thesis summarizes Qian's points of view in literary goals, the relation between literature and reality and humanism that can effectively prove the correctness and rationality of Qian's theory. The thesis further expounds the significance in terms of history and aesthetics: First, the historical significance of the theory in specific social and theoretical background. It carries forward the "literature of human beings" tradition of the May Fourth period, meanwhile surpasses its humanism focusing on individuality; it pays close attention to individuality as well as the social nature, therefore avoid the biased emphasis on either class or universal human nature of the former theorists; it criticizes the erroneous theories that were popular in Qian's time pertinently and has exert great influence on the literary theory afterwards. Second, it reveals the perpetual charm of humanistic aesthetics. The thesis mainly expounds Qian's humanistic aesthetics in terms of the emotional traits and individual traits, which permeate the whole literary process. Authors as well as critics lack intense emotional experience in life and it is hard for them to maintain their independent individuality, which results in scarce attention paid to the literature.Therefore, it is necessary nowadays to uphold and promote the principles of "human-oriented" as well as humanism that have positive effects on soothing people and encouraging them to love each other by reanalyzing of Qian's article.
Keywords/Search Tags:literature, study of man, humanism, value of theory, practical significance
PDF Full Text Request
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