The Sublime And Tragic Features Of Heroism-----A Comparative Study Of Three Kingdoms And Homeric Epics

Homeric epics (The Iliad and The Odyssey) are the source of Western literature, while Three Kingdoms is the first full-length historical novel of China. As great classic works in world literature, they exert a profound influence on later generation’s culture. They all describe magnificent wars, sing highly of outstanding heroes and are filled with heroic passion. They have high comparability in many respects. Researches on national literature of each work are countless, but the exploration of comparative study is seldom found. This thesis attempts to adopt a parallel study method of comparative literature. By using the theories of sublimity and tragedy, it attempts to discover the similarities of the sublime and the tragic features of heroism in both works and to explore the differences of heroism. It is a new experiment to compare heroism from the perspective of aesthetics, which will contribute to broaden the scope of the study of both works.The introduction reviews the definitions of hero and heroism in China and the West, and summarizes the research findings on comparative study of both works. By using theories of comparative study, it explains the comparability between the two works and research significance of this thesis. This thesis consists of four chapters.Chapter One introduces the influential theories of sublimity and tragedy in the history of Western aesthetics. It summarizes the connotation of the sublime and aesthetic factors of tragedy.Chapter Two expounds the similar sublime manifestation of heroism in Three Kingdoms and Homeric epics. Heroes’superior abilities embody "dynamical sublime" and heroic spirit manifests spiritual sublime, which inspire people in their aesthetic experience. Heroism in the two masterpieces shows common human nature. The essence of heroic sublimity is man’s transcendence.Chapter Three analyzes the similar tragic aesthetic features reflected in both works. Tragic heroes are all confronted with irreconcilable conflicts and they make indomitable fights against fate. Though they are ruined, their tragic spirit brings about tragic and stirring aesthetic feeling.Chapter Four discusses the differences of heroism in the two works and their cultural backgrounds. There are different criteria of judging heroes in both works and heroes have different personal motivations for fight. Due to different geographic environment and cultural cores, heroes in Three Kingdoms show collective spirit of loyalty, humanity and righteousness, while Homeric heroes have a strong sense of self-awareness and individualistic inclination.The conclusion summarizes the whole thesis and restates the research significance of this comparative study. Heroism in both works embodies the sublime and tragic aesthetic features, and reflects the human essence of fighting and transcending spirit, which evoke people’s feeling of inspiration and vitality. According to the comparison of heroism of both works, common aesthetic features are manifested as well as their respective values. Moreover, mutual understanding and reflection of literary works in heterogeneous cultures can promote the communication and understanding of different cultures. Chinese and western people have different cultural traditions, but they have common human essence and psychological basis to understand each other.