The Perspective Of Rezeptionsasthetik: Alain Robbe-Grillet’s Free Novel Creation

As a typical French representative writer of anti-tradition novels in the late20th century, Alain Robbe-Grillet creates novels with his own theory, whichundoubtedly opens a new chapter in literature. It is worth mentioning that his newmethod and unique artistry in novels do not crop up by accident; instead, they haveclose relationship with the ideological trend of contemporary western culture and thetheory of post-modern criticism. He opposes anthropocentrism, which has been bestreflected in his novels. Unlike traditional novels, his novels focus on the depiction ofobject, emphasize the free development of behavior and objective things and are fullof different pictures which are arranged unlike the normal order, according to whichhe was commented as “Object Description School” by many researchers. However, inauthor’s opinion, his writing style is both a reflection of free creation and an effectiveway to stimulate readers to actively get involved in the text. Besides, AlainRobbe-Grillet objects to the authoritarian status of the writer and advocates a newcooperative relationship between the writer and reader.Based on the “Theory of Rezeptionsasthetik”, this paper attempts to analyzethe anti-traditional characteristics of Alain Robbe-Grillet’s novels and the readingfreedom originating from the application of some aesthetic strategies. It not onlymacroscopically explains the origin and foundation of this brand-new method ofwrithing novels, but also microscopically analyze the inner characteristics of Grillet’sworks, which leads to the conclusion that his novels has significant impact on thefuture development of novel creation.This paper is divided into three chapters.The first chapter introduces thedevelopment of Acceptance Esthetics and the relationship between “The AestheticTheory of Acceptance” and Alain Robbe-Grillet’s novel creation, pointing out thefoundation of Grillet’s creation of new novels. The second chapter applies receptiveEsthetics theorist Ethel’s “Blank Theory” and “Calling Structure” into the analysis ofthe anti-tradition characteristics, plot vacancy, nonlinear narrative structure andsymbolized character in Grillet’s novels. Those aesthetic strategies employed inGrillet’s novels not only provide readers the opportunity to get involved in the novel,but bring about reading freedom, therefore, this chapter mainly revolves around the“reader-writer” relationship to develop the analysis. The third chapter focuses on“Expectation Horizon Theory” proposed by another aesthetic theorist called Jausse.Through analysis, it is found that Grillet’s novels are able to constantly change andimprove reader’s expectation horizon, which generates a new aesthetic appreciation. And this paper is concluded by pointing out the development trend of future novelsand by proposing a new reading mode.