On The Narrative Of Animals In Xiao Hong’s Works

Xiao Hong’s literary works demonstrate vividly the character, condition, custom andspirit of the people all over China, especially the isolated mountain villages in northeast ofChina, and describe a special “animal world”. It is obviously seen that so much descriptionabout animals reflect people’s living conditions in Xiao’s works. The existence and destiny of“human beings” are compared and reflected with animals.“Human being” and animals areclosely connected. Some scholars have find that there is little systematic research and studyabout Xiao’ animal world. This thesis aims at furthering the study of reason, expression andsignificance of Xiao’ description about animal and the worth and value in her works.The thesis includes introduction, four chapters and conclusion. Chapter one analyzes thereason why Xiao loves animals so much that she express her own feeling by conveying theanimals. Xiao start the work by saying her experience. Childhood is a start point for one torecognize and think about the world. The backyard garden with a special natural magic givesher a sense of spirituality and vitality. This was the first time she got in touch with animals.Living with many peasants in the countryside, she had so many chances to be with animals.Thus, she began to open her mind and thought about the meaning of life. Also, theConfucianism culture, Taoism culture with ecological theory of “unity of heaven and man”and her thought about life make it easy to get to know about the animal world. This is called“general outlook on life” that all the things in the universe are equal. The unity of the threeinfluences Xiao’ choice and work about animals. Chapter two analyzes the connotation ofanimals due to the reason why Xiao loves animals so much and choose animals to express heridea. On one hand, expressing animals in the form of “living subject” shows her pursue andpraise for life; on the other hand, expressing animals in the form of “symbolic meaning”shows her sympathy for the countrymen’ poor living conditions. She cherishes the deepmemory of her hometown on the “domesticated animals” and animals act as something forher to relax. Chapter three,“sheep”“cat” and “reptile” are three typical animal images. Therelationship of “sheep” with obedience,“cat” with women, and “cattle” with marginal manare closely connected. The last chapter, comparing with some northeast writers, Xiao Hongpays much attention on “inertia” in her work. Comparing with narration about animals in contemporary literary, she inherits and surpasses tradition in “living subject” and “Symbolmark”.