Study On Novel Criticism From Cleanth Brooks And Robert Penn Warren

This paper mainly studies how Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren, thewell-known American literary critics, analyze novels. They carry out the analysis offiction on the basis of the works itself, and the very structure, probing literariness fromthe works. Such practice undoubtedly helps to correct the shallow analysis on novelappreciation in China. This paper in the mean time presents how novel critics in themainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan (SAR) and overseas scholars of Sinology areinfluenced by Brooks and Warren, and how they analyze novels with new criticalapproaches.In addition to the introduction and conclusion, this paper is divided into five parts:Brooks and Warren's novel criticism from the perspectives of plots, characters, themesof novel, narrative perspectives, and the influence exerted on China and overseasscholars of Sinology.The first part discusses how Brooks and Warren analyze novel from the perspectiveof plot. Brooks and Warren hold that a successful novel must be integrated in its entirety,so must the plot itself. It is inevitable, however, the plot, themes of the novel and thecharacters might influence each other. The interaction between these three elementsconstitutes a unity: the plot being the structure of the action, figures in action and thepresentation of the theme.In second part, how Brooks and Warren analyze novel from the perspective ofcharacter. In their view, the character of human is coherent and unified, at the same timeinfluenced by the action of the person, language and themes of the novel, etc..The third part elaborates how Brooks and Warren carry out the novel analysis fromthe perspective of themes. Brooks and Warren believe that the theme of a good novel isalways permeated in the works. Details in the novel should be in line with the theme. Aspecific novel's feature should be associated with the writer's consistent writing style. Furthermore, the "tone" of the novel reflects the themes to be displayed.How to analyze novels from the narrative point of view by Brooks and Warren ispresented in Part four, which features the relationship between perspectives and novelstructure and themes.The Fifth Part introduces how novels critics from the Mainland China, Hong Kongand Taiwan (SAR) and overseas absorb Brooks and Warren's critical theory and applythem on criticism practice. In the analysis of critics from the Mainland China, YueDaiyun's close reading with The Dream of Red Mansions, and Wang Furen'sinterpretation of the Diary of a Madman are taken as examples. In that of critics fromHong Kong and Taiwan (SAR), Ouyang Zi's appreciation towards Pai Hsien-yung'scollection of short stories Taipeiers, and Lung Ying-tai's Comment on Novel from LungYing-tai herself are quoted for illustration. For overseas Sinology circle, Xia Zhiqing'sHistory of Chinese Modern Novels is taken for interpretation.