Identity Of Theme And Poetic Expression

Researches on Twenty-four Poetic Styles are numerous in the past, the main concern of which also varied when researchers held different opinions on its theme. Some point out that it is all about styles, and some about artistic conception, or creation. These are reasonable concept by themselves, but not comprehensive enough in general. The thesis attempts to analyze Twenty-four Poetic Styles specifically in combination with contemporary theories in Literature and Art.Styles, the outer layer of works, are in accordance with the innate character. Artistic conception is the state of feeling and setting blended as well as identity of object and self. Both are ways for vividness because of the freedom for author in semiotic world and life respectively. However, it is not easy for author to seize the form in semiotic world, which can often be completed by some mode from our life. Therefore, Twenty-four Poetic Styles is a work not only about styles but also about artistic conception, which expressed various styles with the description of artistic conception.Secondly, Twenty-four Poetic Styles adopted specific mode of expression. It is consisted of twenty-four poems with the characteristics of specific sentence pattern and proper rhythm. Apart from this, metaphor and analogy are also used extensively. These characteristics succeeded in discussing basic problems of literary theory in a poetic form, and the reason for which is probably resulted by the influence of different factors such as mode of production in Chinese ancient time, social environment and cultural atmosphere at that time.Lastly, this thesis tries to show that Si Kongtu has illustrated theories of styles and artistic conception which are involved in Literature and Art in a reasonable and proper way. The theme he wants to convey reaches an agreement with the mode of expression. According to Cassirer, literary texts are actually related to the upper limit and lower limit of words; artistic conception, which is spiritual and unlimited, exceeds its upper limit while styles, which is sensuous and limited, break through its lower limit. Western traditional literary theories have elaborated on some areas of literary texts but only with little analysis on styles and artistic conception. Chinese modern literary theory, on the one hand, is influenced by western literary theory; on the other hand, it pays much attention to narrative literature mainly. So it has lost its essence of Chinese traditional literary theory. By reviewing Twenty-four Poetic Styles, discussing its theme and the mode of expression, this thesis is undoubtedly meaningful for the construction of modern Literature and Art.