Comparative Study On Chinese And American Western "Frontier Fiction"

Both American and China "Western Frontier Novel" are marginalized in a long period and attracted little attention and research. American western Frontier Novel, represented by Cooper, had not gotten enough response from readers due to to the social and cultural environment at that time; but it had a great impact upon development of American Western literature and contributed a lot in forming American characters and eventually became classic works in American literature. China western frontier novels attract great attention and a lot of research has been made, but up to present they have not produced a similar effect as that of American ones. Thus it deserves more profound research so as to find the causes.This article, set in a comparative literature scope and with parallel research method, works on a comparative research upon china western frontier novels represented by Hong Ke and that of American ones represented by Cooper. The research, founded on the principles of equal dialogue across heterogeneous culture communication complementary to similar regional cultures, aims to explore their common aesthetic essence and basic law by highlight their respective literary characteristics and their respective literary tradition of great value. This thesis, in a comparative study of China and American western frontier novel, emphasizes comparability and prominent heterogeneity, and cross-culture dialogue as well. Through the main elements of the frontier novel:background, theme, character, aesthetic aspects, with the reference of American western frontier novels, in order to better understand the value and significance of China western frontier novel and, ultimately, to explore the role that literature played in the process of modernization of China’s western and deep problems.