Comparative Study Between Yan Geling And Nabokov In Novel Creation

Recently,the novels of Yan Geling and Nabokov have been studied extensively,however,few comparative studies have been carried out between them.In order to reveal the influence of Nabokov on Yan Geling and the differences in strategies,topics,and language styles between them,I read their novels in detail.The study not only expand the view of current comparative literature,but also clarify the influences of foreign literature on the Chinese writers and styles of them.The thesis is divided into three chapters.The first chapter focused on the differences in narrative strategy between their novels.In the aspect of meta-narrative,both tell readers their novels are fictional and use the narrative technique that story within a story.Unlike Nabokov,Yan Geling prefers to put her own subjective will on characters to show off her skills.In the aspect of Mirror narrative,both prefer to describe characters' action,scene,and dialogs.Yan Geling always used action to develop stories,however,Nabokov always used scene and mental process.In the aspect of collage narrative,both used collages to explain and comment subjectively,and the characters shuttle among past,current and future.In detail description,it is difficulty to discriminate true from forth.In addition,Yan Geling has her own styles in narrative,namely,multi person and children narrative.Chapter two focused on the topics of them.Firstly,exile,both had experiences in exile,however,their styles were quite different.Due to elite education,Nabokov's style was Self-confidence and self-consistency.And the style of Yan Geling was weak and tolerant.Secondly,freedom,due to experiences in exile,migration and seek for ideal life,both looked forward to freedom.Yan's novels sought for more freedom in material,especially migration.Nabokov's novels sought for more freedom in spirit.Thirdly,love.The heroes of Yan's novels were female,they were weak,tolerant,and lack of females' independence.The heroes of Nabokov's novels were males,they were strong,active,independent intellectual.Lastly,humanity.Both used villains to describe evil in humanity.Unlike Yan,Nabokov's novels almost had no moral criticism,more importantly focused on humanity and leave more space for readers.Chapter threefocuson the language of their novels.Both liked to describe the styles of pronunciation,and added foreign language and colloquial dialect.Yan always used pu tong hua and Chinese local language.In short,the styles of Yan Geling in narrative strategy,topics and language are influenced by Nabokov,however,her styles are quite different especially in aspects of design.